NHTSA Complaint #10428017 — 2008 TOYOTA AVALON

THE LEVER THAT LOCKS THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE LOOSENS/DISENGAGES, RESULTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL 'LURCHING' FORWARD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES NOW. THE LEVER IS UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND ENGAGES/TIGHTENS BY PUSHING IT UP TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LEVER ENGAGES BY 'COMPRESSION' ONLY - THERE IS NOT CLIP OR SPRING THAT PHYSICALLY 'LOCKS' THE LEVER IN PLACE. OVER TIME, FOR WHATEVER REASON (ROAD BUMPS/VIBRATIONS/ETC. AND WITH THE HELP OF GRAVITY) THE LEVER LOOSENS/DISENGAGES. THIS IS AN INHERENT SAFETY DESIGN FLAW IN THE TELESCOPING FUNCTION, AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS/TRAGIC ACCIDENT IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED OR WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN. THERE WERE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LOGGED BY OTHER TOYOTA AVALON OWNERS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES WHEN I SEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. *TR