NHTSA Complaint #11317047 — 2013 FORD F-150

AT APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES, I BEGAN TO HEAR A CHIRPING OR AIR WHISTLING SOUND WHEN LIGHTLY TO MODERATELY ACCELERATING. I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE THE NOISE USING THE INTERNET WHERE I LOCATED VIDEOS FROM OTHER F-150 ECOBOOST 3.5 ENGINE OWNERS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT SENARIO AS I WAS. THEY HAD FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AND/OR PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS WERE LEAKING EXHAUST. THE TELL TALE SIGN IS A DARKENING OF THE AREA AROUND THE REAR OF EACH MANIFOLD. THE MANIFOLDS WERE WARPING FROM EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR MATERIAL FAILURE AT THE REAR AND ALSO BREAKING THE MOUNTING FASTENERS. I HAVE DETERMINED BOTH OF MY MANIFOLDS ARE LEAKING EXHAUST FROM THE NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAY TRIGGER A SAFETY INSPECTION FAILURE IF FOUND DUE TO LEAKING EXHAUST AS WELL AS AN EMISSION TEST FAILURE IF REQUIRED BY THE STATE WHERE THE OWNER RESIDES. ALSO THE RELEASE OF CARBON MONOXIDE FORWARD OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS A CONCERN ESPECIALLY IF THE LEAKS INCREASE IN SIZE.