Column Rattle
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Lincoln MKX and 2007 Ford Edge. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Column rattle is a metallic sounding noise created when applying a highly impulsive force to the steering wheel. Column rattle is often used to combine the more general group of column noises including Clonk and Knock. Column rattle noises can be caused by clonk, knock, loose column components, extra loose parts such as fasteners or broken plastic pieces, etc. A series of parked, straight-line driving and cornering tests must be used to isolate the source(s).