NHTSA Complaint #10062100 — 1990 BUICK LESABRE

I HAVE A 1990 BUICK LESABRE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT WHEEL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE...I HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT "WELL, THE CAR IS JUST AGING" AND DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. MY SON WAS CLIMBING ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED, I DISCOVERED THAT EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR CAN BE PLACED IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE OLD POWERGLIDES THAT WOULD DO THE SAME. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE IS VERY LIKELY. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO DO THIS. THANK YOU.*AK