Column Collapse Feature
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville, 1997 Oldsmobile Regency, 1997 Oldsmobile LSS, 1997 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight, and 1997 Buick LeSabre. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Steering column is designed to collapse if impacted during a collision. Steering shaft and column jacket are both 2-piece units which are internally injected with plastic. Plastic protrudes from holes in each unit keeping 2 separate pieces held together as one unit. See Figure. If the column or steering wheel is forcefully impacted, plastic pieces break off, allowing column and shaft to collapse.