NHTSA Complaint #10440267 — 2009 TOYOTA AVALON

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2009 AVALON LIMITED AUTOMOBILE COLLAPSES WHILE DRIVING WITH NO APPARENT REASON. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL WHICH ONE CAN ADJUST FOR COMFORT & THEN LOCK INTO ITS SET POSITION. A LEVER BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE LEFT SIDE IS MADE TO LOCK SUCH POSITION. IN MANY CASES THE LOCKING LEVER DIS-ENGAGES SUDDENLY CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE WHILE ONE IS DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY DEALER BUT TO THIS DATE, THEY HAVE NOT DUPLICATED THE SAME ISSUE. MY OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN SPORADIC; HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN OF ANY DRIVER WHEN THEY LOOSES CONTROL OF A MAJOR STEERING ABILITY OF ANY VEHICLE. *TR