Does water in the car trunk affect the vehicle?

[DeJessica]

Water in the car trunk can have serious effects on the vehicle. If the trunk water is not cleaned up promptly or the cause is not identified, it may lead to corrosion of the vehicle chassis and produce unpleasant odors inside the car. It is essential to clean the water in the trunk immediately and locate the leakage point to ensure normal vehicle operation. Below are the methods to handle water in the trunk: Drain the water as soon as possible: Of course, drain the water immediately. There is a rubber drainage plug at the bottom of the spare tire compartment in the trunk; removing it will allow the water to drain. Locate the leakage point: After draining, quickly identify the source of the leak. Check if the trunk lid is deformed, inspect the condition of the surrounding rubber seals, or enter the trunk, close the lid, and observe where light comes through to mark the spot. Ventilate the trunk: Remove all items and the trunk liner, then leave the trunk open for about an hour to air out and prevent mold and rust.

[FernandoMarie]

Last time my trunk leaked water was a nightmare. Rainwater seeped in along the weatherstrip and completely soaked the mat. The worst part was the electrical issues - the trunk light short-circuited and burned out. The mechanic warned that if water had flowed further down, it could have damaged the reversing radar. There was also water accumulation in the spare tire well - my jack rusted and became completely stuck, unable to rotate. Not to mention all the cardboard boxes and tools stored inside, everything got moldy and was ruined. Go check your weatherstrips and drainage holes immediately, otherwise by the time you notice, the chassis sheet metal might already be rusted through, and then it won't be a matter of a few hundred bucks to fix.

[DanielLee]

Trunk water accumulation can really damage a car, and my SUV suffered because of it. Water pooled in the corners, first causing a musty smell, and later I found the spare tire underneath completely rusted, costing me a lot of unnecessary money to replace. Even worse, the damp environment corrodes wiring—if the brake light circuit gets soaked, nighttime driving safety is compromised. Once after rain, the door lock malfunctioned, and the repair shop said it was due to moisture from the trunk affecting the circuit board. Now I regularly clean the drain holes, maintain the seals with silicone, and check immediately after rainy days. A car is like a person—attention to detail in maintenance is crucial.

[McRonan]

This issue can range from minor to serious. My friend ignored the water leakage in his car's trunk for three months, and later found out during repairs that the entire floor panel needed to be removed for rust removal, costing nearly two thousand. Accumulated water can corrode metal parts, especially around the spare tire mount and latch areas. I recommend first checking if the drainage holes are clogged, then inspecting whether the sealing strip is aged or deformed. You can buy an improved rubber strip on Taobao for just a few dozen yuan to replace it. Also, be mindful of what you store inside—high humidity can lead to mold, and even medications in the first aid kit may spoil. For a quick fix, you can place some desiccants as an emergency measure.