If your vehicle is showing steering wheel tilt or telescoping adjustment won't lock into place, here are the most likely causes and the parts you'll need to fix each one.
The internal springs, friction plates, or locking teeth inside the steering column have worn out or snapped. This prevents the mechanism from holding the wheel securely and often requires replacing the entire column assembly.
The manual lever used to release and lock the steering column has broken, stripped, or disconnected internally, failing to engage the locking pawl.
On vehicles with power-adjustable steering columns, the electric motor or its internal plastic gears can strip or fail, leaving the column loose or unable to hold its position.
Dirt, spilled liquids, or dried-out factory grease can cause the locking mechanism to stick in the 'released' position, preventing it from springing back to lock the column.