I opened my driver door and noticed that the lower inside of the door was wet. Furthermore, I could see water between metal and the plastic, which I circled. Should I be concerned that this will lead to paint issues? View attachment 327821

Water splashes up from under the opening of the door. In the winter, slush accumulates precisely in that area due to its inherent design. All to say, this is normal.

It's an extra area to focus on when washing/cleaning the vehicle.

 

Puddle water splashes upwards.

 

Salt water to.

does it drain or what????

 

Water could be from the outside but could also be coming from the inside of the door. Could easily check by flooding the outside window glass with water and checking for it at the bottom of the metal door..

The insides of the doors are not water tight.....when it rains or in a car wash some water seeps into the door from the outside from between the glass and the rubber squeegee and enters the inside of the door. That's why they have plastic inner liners behind the door panel, not just for noise suppression but to keep the backside of the panel dry. In addition dust and dirt can accumulate after entering through the gap when driving with the windows rolled down.

The bottom of the metal doors all have weep holes to drain any water entering from the outside. If these weep holes are blocked, water will accumulate and rot out the bottom of the doors as was common decades ago when the insides of the steel panels did not have bonded primer. That plastic wind deflector mounted under the bottom of the metal door would be masking these weep holes from view. Likely some water exiting the holes would wick into the seam especially after outside pressure from wind or rain.

If salt water best to flush with fresh water....if fresh water forgeddaboutit.

 

I have both the 2021 Highlander XLE and 2020 RAV4 Limited. My bigger problem is that the windows are sopping wet when rolled up, even for several days after a rainstorm. My dealer tells me that this is normal and won't do anything about it. But I never had this problem with my 2008 Highlander. Thoughts, anyone?

 

Are you talking about condensation or water infiltration on the inside of the side windows?

 

The windows, when rolled down and rolled back up, will have significant water streaks on the outside. This happens even when it hasn't rained for a few days.

 

What is the condition of the rubber squeegee at the bottom outside of the window, should be tight against the glass on both sides. Could be a source of the problem if damaged by an ice scraper, if not completely flat against the glass water will get in and out and could even be damaged on the underside where it can trap water and cause streaking. Could have been some overzealous salesman or mechanic chipping ice off with a scrapper damaging the rubber getting it ready for a test ride, prep or taking for a fuel fill. Quite possible with a recent ice storm.

Bought my son's Ravxle right off the carrier covered in snow and ice and told the salesman that no one guns the engine to warm it up or goes anywhere near the glass or mirrors with an ice scraper, or a bucket of water.....just turn on the windshield heaters and let it melt off during prep....strip the protective plastic off the hood, fenders, roof and seating, check the fluids, install the wheel center caps, mats and license plate, give me a credit slip for a gas fill and I'm ready to go.

No salesman came anywhere near me with a sharp object!

 

Depends on belt molding material. Outside is rubber-like. Inside is cloth-like. Just don't open your windows. It's an annoyance but not the end of the world. Don't know what you expect the dealer to do other than replace the belt moldings with the same moldings.

 

When I first get a car, new or used, I like to give it the pressure washer treatment, especially where the glass in the doors moves up and down. The Sienna had not had that done in 21 years and the grime had scratched the windows, everywhere the wipers touched the glass and both the drivers and passengers doors, all 4 windows scratched. Fortunately a rock broke the windshield so it got replaced.
It MAY help to really clean the outer wipers which have two sealing surfaces, one that can be seen from outside the car and another underneath the first one. My Sienna was so bad I just used 80 grit belt sander paper to get the really bad imbedded dirt out of the wiper seal, then blasted it with the pressure washer.
Cars parked under trees are especially prone to this type of grunge accumulation.

 

I have a 2020 highlander and noted particularly after driving on gravel roads or after a snow clearing, sanding that there is an accumulation of sand and gravel along the door frame of the rear passenger door as it acts as part of the wheel well. Water as you’ve shown isbad enough, but the sand and gravel does not come off in a normal drive through car wash. You have to get a brush and clean the rubber , trim and lengths of door frame.

 

I opened my driver door and noticed that the lower inside of the door was wet. Furthermore, I could see water between metal and the plastic, which I circled. Should I be concerned that this will lead to paint issues? View attachment 327821

Just bought a 2021 Highlander Limited. Mine is missing this whole rubber gasket, all I see is paint. Can one you guys tell me what this part is called and where I can find replacement for drivers door?