A couple days ago our 2012 Explorer started getting louder. It was clearly an exhaust noise. Looked under it to find the aft end of the catalytic converter had separated from the exhaust pipe, upstream from the muffler. Hmmmmm?!? Pics attached. It heads to the local dealer Wednesday. Wondering if there was some type of union or bracket that became loose and fell away.

 

Looks to me like it just separated at the joint. I've had those flex joints fail before and had to replace them. Seems like its kinda premature failure.