A collapsible steering column assembly preferably has a collapsible steering shaft that extends rotatably along a centerline and a collapsible column that houses and co-extends with the shaft. The column preferably has inner and outer jackets that retract axially to collapse the column. An energy absorbing device has a member engaged between the inner and outer jackets and controls the collapse of the column generally via a high load stage and a low load stage of operation. The member is preferably elongated axially having a distal end that is looped over and spaced radially outward from the remainder of the member. The distal end is attached disengagably to the outer jacket via a pin received in a hole in the distal end and a fuse engaged operably to the pin and attached to the outer jacket.