Is the Car Trunk Sealed?
3 Answers
The car trunk is sealed. Below are some relevant introductions about the car trunk: 1. The car trunk is sealed using sealing strips. 2. It also serves to prevent water leakage, similar to the sealing strips on a refrigerator, so air can hardly escape from the trunk. 3. The elastic net in the trunk can be used to secure fragile items, and almost every car's trunk is equipped with an elastic net. 4. Most modern car trunks are equipped with an emergency escape handle. There is a pull ring inside the trunk; pulling it can open the trunk lid, which is very useful in critical situations.
From my daily car usage experience, the car trunk is not completely sealed. I have checked the trunk multiple times after driving in the rain or washing the car, and I always find water seeping in from the edges, but it doesn’t leak into the cabin. This design is actually for drainage and ventilation. The trunk edges have rubber sealing strips, but the bottom usually has drainage holes specifically designed to let rainwater or condensation flow out, preventing water accumulation that could cause rust or mold. If something accidentally blocks the drainage holes, water may back up—I encountered this issue once during a trip, and the trunk carpet got soaked. Now, I regularly use a wire to clear the holes. Additionally, the imperfect sealing allows air circulation, preventing excessive pressure when closing the door, which protects the car paint and door hinges. Although the lack of a perfect seal sometimes lets in dust, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, especially during the rainy season in southern regions, where it reduces worries. After 15 years of driving, I find this design quite practical. Regularly checking for aging sealing strips can help avoid trouble.
I personally think the sealing of a car's trunk varies by model, but none are 100% airtight. While helping a friend troubleshoot car issues, I observed that most trunks have ventilation vents and drainage channels to prevent vacuum formation or water accumulation inside. For example, SUVs tend to seal slightly better, while hatchbacks have larger gaps. The reasons for this lack of complete sealing include safety considerations—allowing air circulation to prevent suffocation if children or pets are accidentally trapped—and practical aspects, such as designed drainage holes to let rainwater escape naturally. I’ve seen cases where beginners overlooked this, leading to battery corrosion. My advice is to regularly check the sealing strips under the wipers for damage and repair any cracks with silicone. When driving, I also avoid storing perishable items in the trunk since moisture ingress due to imperfect sealing can cause odors. Overall, this is a reasonable design that doesn’t affect daily use, and regular maintenance is key.
