It usually happens at the worst time: you drop the key toward the ignition and it stops short — jammed halfway, or refusing to enter the cylinder at all. On Volkswagens this specific failure is common enough to have a pattern, and it's almost never a worn-out key or a destroyed ignition cylinder. It's the steering lock mechanism binding under load.
What's actually happening
When the car parks with the front wheels turned, or parked on an incline, the steering column can end up holding the weight of the car through the locking pin. That pressure squeezes the lock components slightly out of alignment, and the keyway narrows just enough that the key won't fully insert or seat. Forcing it is how people end up with a snapped-off key — don't.
The fix, in order of effort
- Unload the steering lock: tug the steering wheel gently left and right while letting the key slide in. You'll feel the pressure release and the key will suddenly slide home.
- Confirm the shifter is fully in Park (automatic): nudge the shift lever firmly into P — shift-interlock pressure causes exactly this symptom.
- Try the spare key: if the spare goes in fine, your primary key's blade is simply worn and worth copying before it breaks.
We filmed the exact motion because describing it is harder than doing it:
When it's more than the quirk
If the key goes in but won't turn even with the wheel unloaded, or the problem happens with the wheels perfectly straight on level ground every single time, the lock cylinder itself may be worn or gummed up. A shot of lock lubricant (not WD-40 — use a proper dry graphite or lock lube) solves the gummy cases. Beyond that, cylinders are replaceable without replacing the whole ignition — but try the free fix first. Most people never get past step one.