My new XLT has water leaks (minor, not a lot of water) in 3 different places. Both passenger side doors, but only in the area covered by sheet metal that is painted (the area you step over to enter the car). The other place is the left rear strut thing that helps open the tailgate. Just some droplets in all cases. I'm thinking maybe the seals need to be replaced, or realigned. I'll address it with our dealer at the first oil change. It's kind of disappointing but nothing like what you guys are talking about with the roof rails.
Unfortunately these 2 areas (sounds like) are where water will appear on any car.(?)
The area of metal at the door, prior to the scuff plate, is under the lower door pocket and seal when the door is fully closed. The seal has drain holes in it and water will aways appear here, as well as from splashing up.
It can take time to drain out, there is a lot of water sitting on the roof of any large SUV and when you park it,
if its level it wont go anywhere for a while.
If its parked tilted back or front, it will drain down the door water channels eventually, as well as the rear or front.
The lift arm area of the tailgate and continuing all the way around the top and to the other side, this entire area is outside the seal and is a large water channel, draining to the bottom.
Another water issue that cant be avoided on the Ex -1 day on a Mercedes SUV - I noticed a nice S curve in the body panel up above the rear doors-this channels water from the roof so it goes into the door channels, instead of spilling into the car.
The Ex - after or during a rain, and you open the doors to get out or etc, roof and door water will drip right onto the scuff plates in the front and rear doors - the rear doors it will drip into the car just past the scuff plate onto the carpet.
If you dont notice it, it only does it that 1st time the door is opened - after that the excess water from the roof edge or door top has gone inside your car and it wont again until you repeat this scenario. -Many times there will be water on the scuff plate or the metal edge outside of the scuff plate.
One thing to see - pull the rubber hose out of the hole above the lift arm-is it wet? Any water in the hose? Shake it a bit and you will see.
Mine is a 3rd row drivers side leaker and there was water in the hose.
HTF it got in there I dont know.
Potentially it leaked in from the roof rail and ran into the hose on its way down.
(See my close up pics further down this post.)
