My 2015 Camry has this issue: easy to get steering wheel locked and difficult to ignition. Of course, after long time trying it will finally turn on. Once it turns on, everything seems to be normal.
I drove to Toyota dealer service center. They did not duplicate the lock and sucessfully turn it on for a few times. I spent $175 and they did diagonoise. They read the car's computer and did not see any failure. The suggestion they gave is to change the battery and alternator. But my battery was replaced last year (Costco battery), so I don't think they found the root cause.
Anybody has a good idea what is the real cause?

 

So, your steering wheel locks easy, steering wheel cannot be rotated and you cannot turn the key to start ignition?
When you say "after a long time it will finally turn on" does that mean trying to turn the wheel until the key will turn?

 

Yes. Easy to lock and can only rotate within narrow range.
"AFter long time" means if you keep on trying and trying, after many times, it will turn on eventually.

 

So, by turning the wheel incrementally within the wiggle that it has between locking points, find the sweet spot and it will start?
Sounds very frustrating and like something is not adjusted right.
How many miles on this Camry?

 

Yes. Exactly as you described.
My Camry LE 2015 has about 106,000 miles.

 

If you park the car with the wheel straight, turn off the car, and then without touching the wheel, can you just start the car?
Does the steering wheel move when you start the car with your hands off the wheel?

 

Sometimes this method does make the ignition easier. But sometimes even I pay attend to make every effort to ensure it not lock, it still locks and difficult to ignition.

 

The steering wheel seems not move when I start the car with hands off the wheel.

 

The steering system on this car is electric and there is a star type bushing that is designed to absorb shock and play and I wonder if that has gone bad in your steering shaft.
If there is too much play in this star type bushing, I can see how the steering would lock. BUT, your car does not have very high miles so that makes me think it is not this.
Any steering wheel clunking or noise?

 

I don't feel any steering wheel clunking or noise. Everything seems to be normal if the car is able to ignition (usually,after many tries).