VW, Audi or Skoda Key Won't Turn in the Ignition?
Why the key stops turning, or sticks on, in VW, Audi and Skoda cars, what to check first, how the lock is replaced, and what it costs.
A VW, Audi or Skoda key that will not turn, or is stuck on, usually means a part has broken inside the ignition lock. Here is the fix and what it costs.
It is a common fault on European cars in New Zealand, and we are called to it across Hamilton and the Waikato. The three brands share ignition and steering-lock parts, so a Golf, an Audi A1 and a Skoda Octavia can fail in much the same way. The lock is replaced where the car is parked.
What to try first when the key will not turn
Rule out the free cause before anything else. If the steering lock is under load, the key cannot turn, and nothing is broken.
- Leave the key in the ignition and do not force it.
- Turn the steering wheel gently left and right while turning the key with light pressure. The wheel gives slightly and the lock releases.
- On an automatic, push the selector firmly into Park. The key will not turn or come out unless the car is fully in Park.
- Try your spare key. If the spare turns smoothly, your everyday key is worn. If both behave the same, the fault is in the car.
If none of that works, stop. Forcing the key is how blades snap off inside the lock, which turns one repair into two. A snapped blade is a job for broken key extraction before anything else can happen. Our wider guide, key stuck in the ignition, covers the same first checks for any make.
Why will a VW, Audi or Skoda key not turn? Three likely faults
From the driver's seat these faults feel alike, but they are fixed differently. The symptom usually tells you which one you have.
| What you notice | Most likely fault | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| The key will not turn, or turns only one click, so the car will not start | A part has broken inside the ignition lock cylinder | The lock is removed and a new one fitted |
| The key is stuck in the ON position and the car will not switch off | The same fault: a broken part inside the lock cylinder | The lock is removed and a new one fitted |
| The key turns, but the dash shows an orange steering-wheel light or a steering column lock message, and the car will not start or cuts out after a couple of seconds | The electric steering lock (called ELV on these cars) or its control unit | Read the fault codes first, then fix the part that has failed |
| The key turns fully but nothing happens | The ignition switch, the immobiliser or the chip in the key | Electronic diagnosis, a different fault |
What is the usual fault inside the ignition lock?
On the Golf, Audi A1 and A3 and Skoda Octavia, the usual fault is inside the lock cylinder. A small part breaks or wears, so the key can no longer line everything up. Depending on which part goes, the key stops turning and the car will not start, or it sticks in the ON position and the car will not switch off.
Once a part has broken inside the cylinder, it cannot be fixed by working the key or spraying the lock. The lock has to come out and a new one goes in. It is fitted deep in the steering column, behind the trim and the steering wheel, which is why labour is the biggest part of the job.
A worn lock usually warns first. The key needs jiggling, works at one angle only, or sticks on the way out. Those signs are covered in five signs your ignition is about to fail, and dealing with it at that stage is simpler than waiting for the morning it stops completely.
Recent jobs: an Audi A1 and a VW Golf
2012 Audi A1: the key was stuck in the ON position and the owner could not switch the car off. A part had broken inside the ignition lock cylinder. We removed the lock and fitted a new one.
VW Golf: the key stopped turning in the ignition, so the car would not start. It was the same type of lock and the same failure, and the fix was the same: the lock was removed and replaced.
How much does it cost to replace the ignition lock?
Replacing the ignition lock on a VW, Audi or Skoda is usually quoted from $450 to $650, depending on the car. Most of that is labour, because the lock is buried in the steering column. You get the price before any work starts, once we know the car and the fault. Our ignition repair page covers the wider range of ignition work.
What is the electric steering lock (ELV) fault?
The Passat, the Audi A6 and the Skoda Superb are among the cars that use a small electric motor to lock and unlock the steering column, rather than relying on the key alone. When it fails, the car reacts before you even reach the key.
The signs owners describe are an orange steering-wheel light, a steering column lock message on the dash, a car that starts and then cuts out after a couple of seconds, a click or clunk when the key goes in, or no reaction at all. A weak battery, a cold morning or a wiring fault can bring it on.
The fault codes usually name the steering column lock. Clearing them only buys a day or two: the car starts, then the fault comes back. The actual cause has to be found, so we read the fault memory with our diagnostic equipment, check power and wiring to the lock, and work out which part has failed. We tell you before we start whether it is a job we can finish at the car.
What not to do when the key will not turn
Do not force the key or hit the column. A stiff lock that is forced becomes a broken key and a damaged lock.
Do not spray general-purpose lubricant into the lock. It washes out the grease that is left and traps dust. A dry graphite or PTFE lock lubricant is the right product if you use anything.
Do not keep clearing the fault and driving on. A lock that has started to fail will eventually stop the car starting, often when you can least afford it.
Fixing it in Hamilton and the Waikato
We come to your car anywhere in Hamilton and across the Waikato, including Cambridge and Te Awamutu, between 8am and 6pm, seven days a week. Diagnosis and replacement are done where the car is parked, so there is no tow to a dealer unless the job genuinely needs a workshop. The price is quoted before any work starts.
Brand details are on our Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda pages, and the wider fault is explained on our steering lock repair page. Driving a Nissan or Mazda instead? See Nissan and Mazda steering lock faults.
About this guide
Written by Mobile Auto Locksmith Hamilton, an owner-operated mobile auto locksmith working across Hamilton and the Waikato since 2012, fully insured and rated 5.0 on Google. The repair and cost details come from jobs we have done on these cars, and the electric steering lock signs follow published workshop reports for these models.
Common questions
Why will my key not turn in the ignition and the steering wheel is locked?
The steering lock is holding under load. Turn the steering wheel gently left and right while turning the key with light pressure, and it releases. This is the most common cause and costs nothing to fix. If the wheel is free but the key still will not turn, the ignition lock itself has failed.
Why will my VW, Audi or Skoda key not turn in the ignition?
Most often a part has broken inside the ignition lock cylinder. A locked steering wheel can also stop the key turning, and on later cars the electric steering lock can fail. Trying the spare key shows whether the key itself is worn.
Why is my key stuck in the ON position and the car will not switch off?
A part has usually broken inside the ignition lock cylinder, so the lock no longer returns to off. We have seen this on a 2012 Audi A1. The lock is removed and a new one fitted.
How much does it cost to replace the ignition lock on a VW, Audi or Skoda?
Usually from $450 to $650, depending on the car. Most of the cost is labour, because the lock sits deep in the steering column. You get the price before any work starts.
Can the ignition be fixed without replacing the whole lock?
Not when a part has broken inside the lock cylinder. In that case the lock is removed and a new one fitted. If the cause is only a locked steering wheel or a worn key, nothing needs replacing, and we check before starting.
Will I need a new key or reprogramming?
It depends on the car. Where the new lock can be matched to your existing key, you carry on with the key you have. Where it cannot, the key is made and programmed to the car at the same visit. We tell you which before we start.
Why will the key not come out of my VW or Audi ignition?
On an automatic, the selector is usually not fully in Park. Push it firmly into Park, then try again. If the key still sticks, the ignition lock has worn or broken and should be looked at before it stops turning completely.
Is it safe to keep driving with a stiff or sticky ignition?
It is not worth waiting. A stiff lock tends to get worse until the key will not turn at all, and that tends to happen when you can least afford it. Having it looked at early is easier than arranging a tow.
Do you come to Hamilton and the rest of the Waikato?
Yes. We travel to your car anywhere in Hamilton and the wider Waikato, 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. The price is quoted before any work starts.