2011 QX56 whining noise

[wxkat]

Lately I've been noticing a whining noise coming from the rear of my 2011 QX56 4WD when I'm parked on a slight incline, sloping downward as you face forward. It sounds like a portable air horn (the type used by football fans, etc.) and is definitely noticeable from outside the vehicle, but not inside. As far as I can tell, it only happens when the QX56 is in park but not when in any other gear.

It doesn't appear to be occurring during normal usage, but it has been happening rather frequently. Has anyone noticed this issue with their QX56? At most it appears to be a nuisance since driveability isn't affected.

I haven't mentioned the issue to the dealer yet, mostly because I kept forgetting to mention the issue when I kept taking it in for service. :P

[marctronixx]

if its on the drivers side, its probably the air pump for the auto leveling suspension in back.

if you are in a cold climate, the air may be leaking just a bit and causing the pump to turn on. also on an incline, it can also cause the pump to activate due to the shift in weight.