NHTSA Complaint #10297460 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

THE TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN LOCK LOOSENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. USUALLY THE LOCK LEVER ONLY DROPS LOW ENOUGH TO HIT YOUR KNEES AS YOU EXIT THE CAR AFTER A DRIVE, BUT DOES NOT LOOSEN ENOUGH TO RELEASE THE COLUMN TELESCOPE. TODAY IT DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THE COLUMN (WHICH I HAVE FULLY EXTENDED NORMALLY) COLLAPSED FORWARD (COMPRESSED). I LOST SOME VEHICLE CONTROL AS I REACHED DOWN TO SECURE THE HANDLE UPWARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FRICTION DEVICE AND HAS NO POSITIVE LOCKING DETENT. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE MORE TROUBLE WITH IT THAN I DO AS THEY CANNOT FORCE IT UP AS FAR, SO IT RELEASES MORE OFTEN. A POOR AND DANGEROUS DESIGN. THE DEALER WANTS $79 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE HABIT OF CHECKING THE LOCK FREQUENTLY BUT WHENEVER WE FORGET IT WILL RELEASE THE TELESCOPE AND COLLAPSE THE WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. IT IS HAPPENING ABOUT ONCE A WEEK NOW IF WE FORGET TO CHECK IT. MY WIFE IS 65 AND DOES NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO TIGHTEN IT FULLY NOW. *TR