I just found out my carpet in the trunk soaked with water. There is a water leak somewhere. Anyone experience that? I google it and found couple Sienna in the state do have the same issue. Will go to dealership this Friday to see what is going on, they told never have issue before. But you won't notice until touching the sound deadtening pad under the carpet mat.:headbang:
Check the bottom of your cargo area or front driver/passenger side, esp. after lots of rain if you have a 2011 Sienna van. We have an SE model. After a few consecutive downpours this past month - 3 days of pouring rain, I went to get the stroller out of the trunk. I noticed a few light large spots at the bottom of the rear cargo area. I put my hand down and noticed the area was wet. Strange because we don't store liquids in the back. I told my husband and he checked it out. Turns out the entire trunk/cargo area was soaking wet...right down through the padding underneath the carpet. It took 2-3 entire large paper towel rolls just to barely get the puddles under control and airing out the back. Luckily it was sunny for two days after we discovered the issue. The van started to stink from the mold forming ,and we were panicking since we have kids with allergy and asthma. Mold alert. The metal underneath the carpet padding had started to rust a bit. We just bought the car back in August of 2011. Took the car back to the dealer service center. First diagnosis, they called us next day and told us it would be $1290 because it was our fault one of the back windows latch was not sealed closed. Funny because we didn't even know we had back window latches and even when the service person in charge did a walkabout, no one noticed the window open. Ironic that nothing else was wet too from the top down. Not the back seats, not the strollers and kids knicknacks lying on top of the cargo area. So it's our word against theirs. I asked him if he was absolutely sure. If they had checked out all other posibilities and tested other possible entry points. He said that they were Toyota trained specialists and they were 100% sure. I'd read on some posts that after a few times of the same thing happening to another individual, they finally called in Toyota engineers to come look at it. I asked my service guy if they could do that and again, "ma'am, we ARE the factory trained technicians." After deliberating with my husband, we felt we had no choice but to have whatever needed done to fix the propblem properly to be covered under the warranty. Especially since we have one car and our kids are physically sensitive. After we gave them the go ahead, they were finally able to open up the mess (so before, it was just their best "guess" as to how the water had gotten in. They need our "okay" for the charge to actually open up the car). They tested the back and said it was water tight. Then they asked me if we parked on an incline. We do. About a 30 degree incline tops. Found out the water was actually coming in the through underneath the windshield "gutters" into a channel alongside the sides of the inner frame and flowing back to the cargo area. So guess what, we are covered under warranty. This is the kicker though, service person mentioned that yes, the water leaking in was probably happening for the lifetime of the car. He even told me that there was another same Sienna 2011 that had come in with the SAME issue. It is a design flaw/defect. So how do you fix that? NOW they are bringing the actual factory Toyota guys who will look over the repairs. Someone wrote on this board that they had just drilled holes underneath the car so the water could escape and not reach the back. I DON'T want holes drilled into my new car. And that person still had even worse water leak issues. Have been trying to find out if Toyota will in the least extend my warranty or do something about this car we just bought with a defect built into it. So, if you have a Toyota Sienna 2011 SE, have it tested. It's been two weeks since they've been "holding" our car. Said they are waiting for parts and are waiting for the Toyota factory guys to come oversee this repair. Wondering with the big recalls they have now if they are keeping this under wraps or if people are still unaware of the defect unless they parked like us on incline. I've read various posts where the 2011 Sienna leaked in the front driver and passenger areas which is worse because of the electronics and wiring. I am very concerned the problem will come back after reading some other posts on the web. Toyota has to do something for all of us who have just purchased new vehicles in good faith. Called Toyota customer service and they were not much help. Said to call Toyota Care.
Thanks for the information. I went to service awhile ago and they replace the trunk seal without searching the leak but it still leak. I found ppl who do same leak from Edmond forum said Toyota found out the problem but did not say how to fix it. Do you have photo or can you take photo that where actually the leak from? You said the water coming from the windshield is that the front windshield or the trunk windshield? Please take some picture where the water leak from! many thanks. This border me for more than a year. And I have to remove the trunk mat once a while to dry it. Did the Toyota service center tell you how will they fix it?
I am being told that it's from the front windshield "gutter" system. Where the water drains from the top front (of the car) of the windshield down through each of the internal sides of the car. I have no photos and cannot explain in detail what it looks like because the service center still has my car. I am guessing the "channels" where the water flows to the back can only be seen when the car is taken apart. I wish I could further provide you with more information but all I know is that they are calling Toyota engineers to come and oversee the "repair". At first they were trying to blame us for the leak but if you perhaps try taking your car to another respected Toyota dealer service center (look for online reviews of local Toyota dealer service centers) and ask them to check the interior water "gutter" system, perhaps they can find the root of the problem. Ask them to test water drainage with the car parked at an incline.
Is there a way to plug up the drain holes (i.e. all-weather caulk) so that it does not enter the "gutter system" and instead runs down the front or sides of the van?
Could be that other Sienna 2011 models aside from the SE could have the same problem with the water flooding/leaking into the trunk cargo area. One person I believe on the Edmunds board mentioned that after 3-4 attempts by Toyota to repair the issue, they were finally offered a new 2012 Sienna and when they checked the cargo area...it was yes, wet. I don't however remember if it was an SE. Could be. Next time I find the link I'll post it.
Well my Sienna is in the Service department now. See how they find out the problem! Any update what Toyota say for the leak? We don't sell as many cars as in the state, so there won't be as many Sienna has same issue!
Just an update. I send my car to service department again and they told me they found out the leak is from the roof rack and they seal it. Now they have to wait to see if they stop the leak will get the car back tomorrow. Will update tomorrow.
My dealer took my Sienna to a body shop and they found out the roof gutter was not proper seal. They seem re seal the gutter but they broker the gutter cover so my dealer has to order the gutter cover and put it back. It seem the story end! But I have to wait couple week to make sure there are no water in my trunk again.
I was wondering if and how your water leak problems have been resolved. Ipresumed described our problems exactly even the same month of purchase (we have an XLE). The dealer has yet to replicate the leak, so they don't know where to start to try to fix it. We are frustrated and ready to declare it a lemon, but don't want to replace it with another leaky sienna. We would rather have our car back nice dry and mold free. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Actually my dealer took my sienna to a body shop and they did the water test. They found out the water came from the right top rear then they remove the gutter. The one long plastic strip that beside your roof rack. Then they found out the leak and re-seal it. They told me water tested again and the leak stop. I still have to wait 1-2 months to confirm the leak. I think the body shop do better job then dealer because they told me there are chance of water leak after they repair the vehicle after accident. So they should have better experience. Hope it help! I don't want to replace my sienna too I love my van!
Just noticed some of this problem were reported early on after they bought theirs. Ours just gave us problem after 8 years on service. Toyota needs to up the sealant they use for body water intrusion.
I have a 2007 XLE Sienna and only noticed water in the rear trunk area few months ago, and after rain, or washing the car. While my wife ran water on the outside of van, and I was watching from the inside, the nearly full flow of the water came gushing in when she was about a foot above each of the lower corners of the tailgate. The gasket seems good, compliant, no cuts. The tailgate does not seem loose when closed. I guess the question is whether I should try adjusting the latch to make it tighter or pay for a new gasket.
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