Skoda/Volkswagen/Seat EV charging error, flashing orange light, gear shift won't last lock.

I think this fault might be common to a number of models from Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat. The problem manifests as a charging fault - when the cable is connected, the charging indicator light flashes orange and the car will not charge. But the root of the problem is that the gear shifter does not lock in P (park) when the car is turned off. In the case of my car, the problem is intermittent and getting worse, with the gear shifter not locking around 95% of the time. Hence charging the car has become a real problem as the only solution is to charge it at home with the ignition on for the duration.