97 Maxima SE auto.

The car has a brand new starter and battery. The altinator checks out ok as well.

Heres the problem:

When starting you have to turn the key really hard in order for it to start. This started about two months ago.Not only do you have to turn the key really hard ,now it wont start. You have to keep trying , then finally after about three trys it will start. It just seams that something inside the steering colomn is just not catching or something. But once it catches it starts in a instance. Its just turning the key really hard over and over until it does catch.Maybe a ignition switch problem ?? I have no idea.
Has anyone else had this problem ?

Thanks for the help !

 

Just to clarify ...

You have to "physically" turn the key very hard for it to finally catch/start.