I have a 1998 ford expedition the key turn freely when I tried to shut it off had to pull fuel pump fuse to shut it off. Had a mechanic come and check it out and said the bar the pushes the block switch thing broke and that I had to get a whole new steering wheel now I have a switch hang under the dashboard and using it to start the truck it does everything the key does but it’s a switch with a bunch of wires.

 

Steering column repair is not that difficult, but you can't be all thumbs doing it, so a lot of places will replace the upper steering column which can usually be found in most salvage yards.Not that big of a deal.