WHILE DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL ROADWAY MAKING A LEFT TURN THE TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKING LEVER FELL OUT OF POSITION AND HIT MY LEG WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. THE SURPRISE OF AN UNEXPECTED OBJECT STRIKING MY LEG RESULTED IN MISSING THE SHIFT AND GRAZING A CURB WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL. UPON STOPPING, THE LEVER WAS UNABLE TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO PLACE AND WAS EASILY REMOVED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT THE USAGE OF TOOLS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGREED THAT THIS WAS NOT A WEAR & TEAR ISSUE ON THE MECHANISM, BUT THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON A PROBLEM WITH THIS ITEM. CAMARO AND OTHER CHEVY FORUMS SHOW THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.