NHTSA Complaint #10569159 — 2005 TOYOTA AVALON

I NOTICED THE TELESCOPING LEVER HAD FALLEN A FEW TIMES WHILE ENTERING VEHICLE BUT PAID IT NO MIND AND JUST PUSHED IT UP. I WAS DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY AND I PUT THE BRAKES ON AND MAKING A TURN AND THE WHEEL JUST COLLAPSED TO THE ALL THE WAY DOWN POSITION AND IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND I ALMOST CRASHED! I TRY TO BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF THE FALLEN LEVER BUT IF NEGLECT TO PUSH IT UP THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL WILL FALL AT LEAST ONCE A DAY WHILE DRIVING USUALLY WHEN BRAKING SINCE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING THERE IS MORE DOWNWARD FORCE ON THE COLUMN. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA CORPORATE ARE TELLING ME THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE AND ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND I NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A LIE SINCE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND EVEN A TSB TOYOTA ISSUED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOW AND WHY SHOULD I BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A SAFETY CONCERN THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FIX. I HATE THAT IT MIGHT CAUSE A CRASH AND MAYBE THEN AFTER THE CRASH THEY MIGHT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. ONE MORE THING THE TELESCOPING OPTION IS ALMOST NEVER USED SO ITS CERTAINLY NOT FROM BEING USED TOO MUCH. *TR