NHTSA Complaint #10934452 — 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VERY WELL MAINTAINED SILVERADO. AT JUST 100000 MILES I NOTICED MULTIPLE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN, I HAD NOTICED A TICKING SOUND FOR AT LEAST 10000 MILES BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOUND, AS IT TURNS OUT IT WAS THE BROKEN EXHAUST BOLTS. THESE BOLTS BREAK OFF AT VARYING LENGTHS INCLUDING BELOW FLUSH WHICH IS EXTREMELY COSTLY TO HAVE REPLACED. AFTER A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH I HAVE REALIZED THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH A MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS DEFINITELY AN EPA CONCERN BEING THE RAW GASSES ARE FLOWING OUT OF THE VEHICLE BYPASSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND BY NOT ALLOWING THESE VEHICLES TO PASS REGULATORY SMOG CERTIFICATIONS. THIS DEFECT COULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE EXHAUST GASSES TO GET INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I TRULY HOPE THAT YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THESE DEFECTIVE BOLTS AND AT THE VERY LEAST GET CHEVROLET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND HELP WITH A PORTION OF THE COST TO REPAIR.