What is the extent of a Level 5 flood-damaged vehicle?
2 Answers
Flood Level 5: The water completely submerges the engine hood, at which point almost all electrical equipment inside the vehicle will be affected by the water. The six levels of flood-damaged vehicles are as follows: 1. Flood Level 1: The water just reaches the vehicle chassis, and the floor may get damp, but the likelihood of significant water ingress is low, with minimal impact on the electrical equipment inside. 2. Flood Level 2: The water reaches halfway up the wheels. Due to the vehicle's incomplete sealing, water will begin to enter the interior. For lower-sitting sedans, the water level inside may affect components such as the seat adjustment motors and heating/ventilation systems. 3. Flood Level 3: The water almost completely submerges the tires. At this stage, the water level inside will fully immerse the seat cushions and center console area, affecting a large number of electrical components. 4. Flood Level 4: The water reaches the engine hood. The interior water level rises to the dashboard, and components such as the headlights and the engine intake pipe in the engine compartment begin to take in water. 5. Flood Level 5: The water completely submerges the engine hood, affecting nearly all electrical equipment inside the vehicle. 6. Flood Level 6: The water submerges the roof, affecting the headliner and sunroof module, with no interior component left unaffected.
Last time at the repair shop, I worked on a Category 5 flood-damaged car—the water level was so high it submerged even the roof, leaving the interior and exterior covered in mud and water stains. It was a total disaster. Upon disassembly, I found all electronic modules in the engine bay fried, the battery short-circuited and dead, wiring harnesses corroded beyond repair; the seat cushions were waterlogged and reeking, breeding mold, while the AC system was completely nonfunctional. The repair costs exceeded the price of a new car, making scrapping it the smarter choice. The owner was frantic, but with flooding this severe, hidden risks were too great—future electrical shorts or rust-induced failures were inevitable. Such vehicles can only be treated as scrap metal, with even parts being hard to salvage. If buying a used car, never touch a Category 5 flood-damaged one—always check the water submersion level in records to avoid wasting money and risking unsafe driving.
