Steering wheel lock

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I have a 2011 and the steering wheel does not lock when the ignition is off. Is this a common issue? From my understanding it should lock when the ignition is off.
 
What would cause it not to lock? Is this a common issue with MS3 Or M3?
 
Common causes are not turning the wheel back and forth to get it into position to lock and someone breaking the lock to steal the car.
 
I’ve tried turning the wheel quite a bit and no dice there.

I got a CarFax when I bought the car - as in a paid for one - and it didn’t show any reports of it being stolen previously.

Google AI search mentioned the steering wheel detent or cog for the locking mechanism could be broken. I couldn’t find much else about anyone having a similar issue with their MS3.
 
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Nope, and Carfax and NICB shows nothing of theft and title is clean and VIN is correct.
 
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Looking into steering columns and wheel locks, I wonder if a sensor failed and the car thinks the key is still in the ignition even when the car is off and thus it doesn’t engage the locking pin.

I did not see anything mentioned in the manual about a the steering wheel locking but it would be weird for a car not to have that feature.
 
There's no sensor; it's a physical lock that works with no power.
It's the key itself that unlocks the wheel.
 
Thanks. So something is up with the mechanism inside that is supposed to drop the male piece that locks into the column when the key is removed.
 
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