Will a car with water reaching the seats have problems?
2 Answers
The severity of a water-damaged car depends on the height of the water submersion and whether the vehicle was started while submerged. If the water only reaches beneath the seats, this height is still below the vehicle's air intake and the positions of the fuse box and dashboard console. After thorough cleaning, the impact on the vehicle is relatively minor. Below are more related details on handling a flooded car: 1. If your car gets flooded, do not attempt to start the vehicle. Starting the vehicle will void insurance claims. In such cases, it's best to call for towing assistance. 2. Check if the license plate has been washed away. After heavy rain, license plates are prone to loss when the vehicle drives through water. 3. First, call your insurance company to file a claim and follow their specified procedures. (Make sure to report within 24 hours.) 4. Contact a repair service as soon as possible after the vehicle is flooded, as some electronic components may suffer further damage if not cleaned promptly after getting wet.
My previous car had waterlogged seats, which turned into a huge headache. When water seeps into the seat foam and isn't dealt with promptly, mold can develop within days, filling the cabin with an unbearable musty odor. Turning on the AC made it worse—spores would spread everywhere, triggering my mild asthma and causing me to cough while driving. Later, I took it to a repair shop and spent over 800 yuan on professional drying and disinfection. The mechanic warned that prolonged water exposure could corrode the metal frame, compromising the seat's structural safety, making it less secure during emergency braking. Over time, the resale value could drop by half. So, don't take water damage lightly—immediately use a household blower to dry the surface, then check under the carpets for trapped water. Prevention is key: I now always avoid parking in low-lying areas and inspect door/window seals before rainy seasons.
