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Climate control, bodywork and interior

Problems with water leaks: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 50 faults with water leaks in 49 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: overheating and water ingress in the high-voltage battery (Hybrid versions) (Citroën C5 Aircross), water leaking in through the panoramic roof drains (BMW X3 E83) and water leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Peugeot 107 I (Peugeot 107).

Documented faults
50
5 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
49
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
49
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

3 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Water leaks

Water gets into the cabin or the boot through door or roof seals, through blocked drains (from the sunroof, the air conditioning or the windscreen area) or through badly sealed tail lights. Besides the damp, it can damage control units and wiring that run under the floor mats.

What to do

If you notice damp floor mats, persistent misting or a musty smell, find the source as soon as possible: clear the roof and windscreen area drains and check the seals. Dry the interior thoroughly to avoid mould and electrical faults.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with water leaks. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with water leaks by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityCommonFrequency: CommonCitroën C5 AircrossOverheating and water ingress in the high-voltage battery (Hybrid versions)The plug-in Hybrid versions of the C5 Aircross built between January 2020 and the end of 2022 have been the subject of several successive manufacturer campaigns over a risk of the high-voltage battery overheating and, in another related campaign, over possible water ingress into its casing.
  2. 2High severityCommonFrequency: CommonBMW X3 E83Water leaking in through the panoramic roof drainsThe drainage channels of the X3 E83's panoramic roof can become blocked and let water in, damaging the electronics; gebrauchtwagenberater.de puts the repair at an official BMW dealer at €2,100, and fiches-auto.fr lists similar cases of up to €2,500.Repair: €2,100
  3. 3Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 107Water leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Peugeot 107 IOwners describe water getting in through the boot, rear light and door seals, wetting the boot or the floor; it is a sealing fault, with no official campaign, according to reports compiled by fiches-auto.fr.
  4. 4Critical severityRareFrequency: RareFiat 600Fire risk from water ingress into the 48 V belt-starter generator protection (built 2023-2025)Yes: a recall covers cars built between 28 July 2023 and 19 December 2025 in which insufficient clearance between the petrol particulate filter pipe and the protective cap of the 48 V starter-generator allows water in and can cause an electrical arc and a fire.
  5. 5Critical severityRareFrequency: RareJeep AvengerFire risk from water ingress into the 48 V starter-generator protection (2023-2025 production)Yes: a 2026 campaign covers MHEV versions built between 9 March 2023 and 18 December 2025 in which insufficient clearance between the particulate filter pipe and the protective cap of the 48 V starter-generator lets water in and can cause an electric arc and a fire.
  6. 6Critical severityRareFrequency: RareJeep Compass MPWater ingress into the mild-hybrid system's 48 V battery with risk of overheating (2022-2023 production)Yes: a 2023 recall covers MHEV vehicles built between 9 November 2022 and 9 March 2023 in which a manufacturing defect in the 48 V battery allowed water to get in, with a risk of overheating.
  7. 7Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q3 IIWater leaks and cracks in the panoramic roofOn cars fitted with a panoramic roof, a specialist reliability profile documents water leaks and cracks, pointing to blocked drains as the usual reason the seal fails.
  8. 8Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C1 IWater leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Citroën C1 IOwners describe water getting in through the seals of the tailgate, the rear window, the doors and the third brake light, wetting the boot or the floor; it is a sealing fault, with no official campaign, according to reports compiled by fiches-auto.fr.
  9. 9Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 Aircross IWater ingress through the door and sunroof sealsSeveral C3 Aircross I owners document repeated water ingress into the cabin, with soaked carpets, through faults in the door seals and, in cars with a sunroof, in the sunroof seal; in at least one case Citroën was unable to supply the replacement seal for several months.
  10. 10Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Xsara PicassoUnderbody corrosion and water getting in through the rear doorsSeveral Xsara Picasso owners document corrosion on the underbody and water getting in through the rear doors, as well as trims that peel away over time; these are bodywork problems that worsen with the vehicle's age.
  11. 11Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDS DS 7 CrossbackWater ingress into the rear lights due to inadequate sealingSeveral DS7 Crossback owners, with different engines, document water getting into the rear lights because of inadequate sealing, with visible condensation and a risk of the light unit failing.
  12. 12Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFiat StiloWater leaking through the sunroofThe Stilo's sunroof leaks water fairly often according to owner reports, usually because of a sealing problem or blocked drains.
  13. 13Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord C-Max IRear wiper motor short circuit caused by water ingress (2003-2005)On cars built between 2003 and 2005, insufficient sealing of the rear wiper control housing lets water in and can cause a short circuit, according to two independent sources.
  14. 14Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMINI Cooper R56Window cable fatigue on the electric windows, with water leaksThe cable in the electric window mechanism fatigues with use on some Cooper R56s and stops the window closing fully, which also encourages water leaks into the door.
  15. 15Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi ASX IWiper motor rusted by water ingress and corroded linkage ball jointOn the ASX, water can get in through the front wiper motor's breather and rust it from the inside, or drip onto the linkage ball joint and corrode it; in the worst case the wipers stop working. Mitsubishi dealt with it through several recalls (Safety Gate A12/1565/17).
  16. 16Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan Note IWater leaks and paint defectsOn some Note I units, water can get in through the rear lights, the tailgate or the windscreen, causing damp in the boot, and the paint or bumpers can peel or rust sooner than expected.
  17. 17Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSeat ExeoWater leaks into the cabin through the roof and doorsAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, several Exeo 2.0 TDI owners describe water in the cabin, under the front and rear floor mats, through the roof or in the driver's footwell, with door seals also implicated.
  18. 18Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Aygo IWater leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Toyota Aygo IOwners describe water getting in through the third brake light seal and the floor and rear door seals, wetting the boot or the floor; it is a sealing fault with no official campaign, according to owner reports gathered by fiches-auto.fr.
  19. 19Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC90 IIWater getting into the cabin through a faulty air-conditioning drain hoseIn 2016 cars, a faulty air-conditioning drain hose can let water into the cabin and soak the carpet in the front and rear footwells. Volvo fixed it through a recall that reached around 11,000 cars in Germany.Repair: €0
  20. 20Low severityCommonFrequency: CommonRenault Scénic IIIWater ingress into the cabin through blocked drainsThe drains under the windscreen or the air conditioning condensation tube can become blocked on the Scénic III and let water into the cabin footwells, a problem Caradisiac flags as recurring and already present on the Scénic II.
  21. 21Medium severityRareFrequency: RareAudi Q5 IAudi Q5 panoramic sunroof jamming and water leaksThe Q5's panoramic sunroof appears on the entry with jamming, noises and leaks; one owner had it replaced twice and another paid around €1,000 for the sunblind. There are few cases and only testimonies.
  22. 22Medium severityRareFrequency: RareBMW Serie 5 E60Water leaking in through the sunroof or panoramic roof drainsfiches-auto.fr documents water leaks through the 5 Series E60's sunroof or panoramic roof, with damp carpets and a peeling roof lining trim in several owner reports.
  23. 23Medium severityRareFrequency: RareBMW X5 E53Water leaks through the sunroof of the X5 E53According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (206 for the 2000-2007 X5), there are sunroof sealing problems, with water that has ended up disabling the GPS and the audio.
  24. 24Medium severityRareFrequency: RareBMW X5 E70Leaks and jamming of the panoramic sunroof on the X5 E70According to fiches-auto.fr, the X5 E70's panoramic sunroof can jam or leak because of blocked drain channels, wetting the floor and electrical modules. One testimony cites €2,000 for the replacement.
  25. 25Medium severityRareFrequency: RareBMW X5 F15Panoramic roof water leaks and power tailgate failure on the X5 F15According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (56 for the 2013-2018 X5), water can get in through the panoramic roof because of blocked drains and damage the wiring, and faults with the power tailgate and the soft-close latch are cited (50d, 90,000 km).
  26. 26Medium severityRareFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase A W177Badly fitted air-conditioning drain tube, water entering the cabinOn model year 2019 cars, a badly fitted air-conditioning drain tube can let condensation water collect on the cabin floor instead of draining outside.
  27. 27Medium severityRareFrequency: RareMINI Clubman R55Water leaks into the cabin and sunroof failureAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, a 2010 Clubman with 73,000 km took in water on the passenger side and at the rear, and another had to have its sunroof repaired. These are isolated cases, not a fault documented by the press or by a campaign.
  28. 28Medium severityRareFrequency: RareOpel Insignia BWater ingress into electronic modules and rear light unitsTwo testimonials on fiches-auto.fr describe water ingress: into an electronic module on a 2.0 Turbo (70,000 km, 2020, with the alarm and starting affected) and into the rear light units of a 2.0 diesel.
  29. 29Medium severityRareFrequency: RareŠkoda Superb IIWater leaking into the boot through the panoramic roof drain tubesOn cars with a panoramic roof, two different owners recorded by fiches-auto.fr document water leaking into the boot because of insufficient diameter of the roof drain tubes, to the point of water pooling on the boot floor.
  30. 30Medium severityRareFrequency: RareŠkoda YetiWater leaks through the Škoda Yeti panoramic roofSeveral Yeti owners with a panoramic roof report water leaks, in one case flooding the cabin, and one case of a misaligned metal frame with a bill of €1,950 according to the entry. It is a pattern in testimonies, not a campaign.Appears at around 15,000 km
  31. 31Medium severityRareFrequency: RareVolkswagen Scirocco IIIWater leaks through the Volkswagen Scirocco panoramic roofThe sheet describes noises and water leaks through the Scirocco's panoramic roof, with blocked drains and damage in the cabin and boot. These are owner reports, with no recall.
  32. 32Medium severityRareFrequency: RareVolvo C30Water ingress through the tailgate of the Volvo C30According to the fiches-auto.fr reports, the C30's tailgate can let water into the boot, also via the aerial, and sometimes the tailgate struts need replacing. It is an owner pattern, not an official campaign.
  33. 33Medium severityRareFrequency: RareVolvo XC60 IWater leaking through the windscreen into the cabin and the pedal areaAccording to the fiches-auto.fr testimonials, some XC60 cars let water in through the windscreen when it rains, flooding the pedal area; the water can reach electronic modules.
  34. 34Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo 159Water leaks into the cabin and noisy interior plasticsThe Alfa Romeo 159 has built up reports of water getting into the cabin in heavy rain and of noises and creaks from the interior plastics, along with corrosion at the engine mounting and fragile paint.
  35. 35Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 F10Water leaks through the door and boot sealsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, some 5 Series suffer water ingress through the rear door seals, the sunroof or the boot, leaving the rear carpets and floor soaked. These are repeated cases but with no known campaign.
  36. 36Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 G30Panoramic roof that creaks, sticks or leaksGebrauchtwagenberater.de and fiches-auto.fr report complaints of panoramic roofs that creak or stick when closing, and the odd isolated case of leaking through the drain channel; there are no figures indicating what proportion of cars suffer from it.
  37. 37Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C1 IIWater getting in through the rear window, under the driver's floor and at the rear lightsAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, several second-generation C1 cars suffer leaks: the rear window seal, water under the driver's floor and ingress into the boot and rear lights.
  38. 38Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Mondeo IVWater leaking in through the air conditioning drainOn older Mondeo IV cars, the air conditioning condensate drain can become blocked and make water flow back into the cabin instead of draining outside, soaking the upholstery; fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de document this independently.
  39. 39Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHonda Civic XCorrosion spots, weak paint and occasional water ingressOwner testimonials describe corrosion spots, marks or chips in the paint and occasional water ingress through the glass, mirrors or a panel on the Civic X.
  40. 40Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Tucson IVElectric tailgate and fuel flap faults, and water leaksOwner testimonies and a German buying guide agree on occasional faults in the electric access mechanisms of the Tucson NX4: the electric tailgate that does not always operate properly, the fuel flap stuck on the plug-in version, the windscreen washer lines and the occasional water leak through the air conditioning drain.
  41. 41Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMINI Clubman R55Window regulator failure: windows that do not close fully and let water inAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr for 2006-2013 Minis, the window regulators fail frequently; on a 2009 Clubman the windows did not close fully and caused water leaks at 82,500 km. There is no known campaign.
  42. 42Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Mégane IIIWater leaks into the cabinSome Megane III suffer water leaks in the door recesses, in the passenger footwell or in the spare wheel well, according to Caradisiac's reliability sheet.
  43. 43Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Scénic IIWater leaks into the cabin through drains and sealsOn the Scénic II, water can get in through the doors, the boot or around the windscreen when the drains become blocked or the seals age, soaking the carpets and eventually affecting electrical connectors.
  44. 44Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSeat León IIIWater leaks in the headlights and tailgateMotorMundial documents sealing problems in the Leon III's headlights and tailgate, that is, water getting in through inadequate sealing, along with poor quality windscreen wiper blades.
  45. 45Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota VersoCorrosion and leaks in the bodywork of the Toyota VersoAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the bodywork is the most-cited area outside the engine on the Verso: 14 cases of rust in the seat mounts, water getting into the boot and fragile paint.
  46. 46Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Touran IWater leaks through the sunroof or the door sealsYes: fiches-auto.fr documents water leaking into the cabin through the sunroof (seals coming unstuck or blocked drains) on the Touran I facelift, and gebrauchtwagenberater.de independently confirms the same problem through the rubber door seals or the sunroof drains.
  47. 47Low severityRareFrequency: RareAudi A8 D3Water leaking into the rear lightsAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the rear lights of the A8 D3 can let water in; the listing mentions 280 euros per unit, a figure from one report with no VAT indicated. This is a pattern drawn from owner reports, not a manufacturer recall.
  48. 48Low severityRareFrequency: RarePeugeot 108Water ingress in the rear lights and tailgate latch failureAccording to testimonies on fiches-auto.fr, some 108s collect water in the rear lights, even after repairs, and in one case the tailgate latch had to be repaired three times in eight months.
  49. 49Low severityRareFrequency: RareŠkoda CitigoPoorly fitted door seals and water leaks in the doorsSome owners mention poorly fitted door seals that let in wind noise and water, and blocked drains that collect water in the door cavities. It is a pattern in testimonials, with no official campaign.
  50. 50Low severityRareFrequency: RareVolkswagen up!Poorly fitted door seals and water leaks in the doorsSome owners mention poorly fitted door seals that let in wind noise and water, and blocked drains that collect water in the door cavities. It is a pattern in testimonies, with no official campaign.

Problems with water leaks by make

Problems with water leaks in your car

1 car has several documented faults with water leaks. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect it, by engine and by year.

MINI 1

How much it costs to repair a fault with water leaks

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with water leaks?

Among those we have analysed: Citroën C5 Aircross (overheating and water ingress in the high-voltage battery (Hybrid versions)), BMW X3 E83 (water leaking in through the panoramic roof drains), Peugeot 107 (water leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Peugeot 107 I), Fiat 600 (fire risk from water ingress into the 48 V belt-starter generator protection (built 2023-2025)), Jeep Avenger (fire risk from water ingress into the 48 V starter-generator protection (2023-2025 production)), Jeep Compass MP (water ingress into the mild-hybrid system's 48 V battery with risk of overheating (2022-2023 production)), Audi Q3 II (water leaks and cracks in the panoramic roof) and Citroën C1 I (water leaks through the tailgate and rear light seals on the Citroën C1 I). In total, 49 cars with documented faults with water leaks.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with water leaks?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At a dealer, from €0 to €2,100, including VAT, based on the 2 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is water leaking in through the panoramic roof drains (BMW X3 E83).

What symptoms does a fault with water leaks cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: water getting into the cabin or boot, rust or corrosion on the bodywork or underside and electric windows or central locking not responding.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. 1.BMW X3 (E83): Schwachstellen und ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  2. 2.Fiabilité BMW X3 (2004-2010): pannes et avis de propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. 3.Volvo XC90 II: Probleme, Krankheiten & Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German