Water in tailgate, 2015 Touareg

Water in tailgate, 2015 Touareg

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Discussion

clockworks

Original Poster:

5,292 posts

144 months

Wednesday 27th December 2017
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I've owned a 2015 Touareg R Line for a couple of months now. I've got used to some water running off the tailgate into the boot each time I open it when it's raining, but this problem is a bit more serious.

It rained quite heavily where I was staying for Christmas. When I opened the tailgate to load up on boxing day, I could hear water sloshing around. Some of it ran out from the trims at the side of the rear window, onto the D pillar trims and carpeted boot sides.
When I closed it again, same sloshing noise.

When I arrived home and unloaded, there was less sloshing, but water was still running out of the trim panels and into the boot.

Investigating more closely today, water was visible around both of the rear light access panels inside the tailgate. There was a lot of water between the tailgate seal and the metal scuff plate on the boot floor. Water was also dripping out at the bottom of the tailgate interior trim panel.

I removed the two rubber bungs in the bottom edge of the tailgate, then closed it. About half a pint of water came out of the two holes.

It looks like the tailgate itself is filling up with water when it rains, and can't escape with the tailgate closed.When I open it, it's running up (down) until it reaches the access panels or gaps in the trim panels, and running out into the boot.

Since there don't appear to be any permanent drains from the lower edge of the tailgate, I assume it shouldn't fill up with water (unlike doors, which have drains). Anyone have this problem? Where is the water getting in?

francesco.mosca

3 posts

105 months

Thursday 29th November 2018
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Hi,

I am experiencing exactly the same problem on mine 2017 Touareg.

How did you solve it? Where the water is coming in?

Regards,

F

clockworks

Original Poster:

5,292 posts

144 months

Friday 30th November 2018
quotequote all
Dealer resealed the lights on the tailgate under warranty, and the 2 blanking plugs in the lower edge were removed.

I've not noticed any problems since this was done.

francesco.mosca

3 posts

105 months

Wednesday 30th October 2019
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Still having this problem. If you temove the plugs water will go out but it should not be there in the first place.
I dismantled the taillights but could not see any damage to the seals. Shoul I try with some extra silicon?

F

Prolex-UK

3,006 posts

207 months

Sunday 3rd November 2019
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Will check my 2016 toerag out today

rob_benton

87 posts

196 months

Tuesday 5th November 2019
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Ive not heard of this before on the Vw Touareg forum.
Could you pour water over each light at a time with the tailgate half open to see if water comes out the drains or remove all the tailgate interior trim and see if any water is visible ?

Can water get in around or underneath the roof spoiler ? The wire for the 3rd brake must go through the tailgate.

Is the rear wiper ok ?

Have you tried removing the all the boot trim and laying in the boot as someone pours water over the outside ?



Edited by rob_benton on Tuesday 5th November 20:58


Edited by rob_benton on Tuesday 5th November 21:07

Starfighter

4,908 posts

177 months

Tuesday 5th November 2019
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If you have the sunroof option then check the drain pipes. There are 2 at the front draining to either the door jams or the wheel arch. The rears drain to the rear arches and if they back up then water spills over to the c pillars and to the boot floor.
We had the wheel well full on our golf till I figured that out.

Keep it stiff

1,762 posts

172 months

Saturday 9th November 2019
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I have the same issue with my A6 Allroad. I could hear the water sloshing about each time I opened it and it developed an intermittent rear light fail. I pulled out the plugs on the bottom edge and quite a bit of water came out but I can still hear some in there. What is the most likely way it is getting in there?

annodomini2

6,860 posts

250 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
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Keep it stiff said:
I have the same issue with my A6 Allroad. I could hear the water sloshing about each time I opened it and it developed an intermittent rear light fail. I pulled out the plugs on the bottom edge and quite a bit of water came out but I can still hear some in there. What is the most likely way it is getting in there?
Either the light fittings or the seal round the rear wiper.

Check your spare wheel well as mine got flooded.

wirewick

8 posts

108 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I have the exact same issue on my 2015 Touareg!

I noticed a sloshing sound coming from the rear of the car. Opened the hatch, water poured onto my head. Noticed water dripping off the plastic interior trim of the hatch.

When I got home I started to inspect a bit more and found a very large puddle in the spare tire well; probably well over a liter that I removed with a large sponge. Bad taillight seals definitely seem to be the likely culprit here. I had some body work done to the hatch that involved removal and replacement of the passenger side light.

The only confusing part, is that the lights sit below the d-pillars, and the fabric on those pillars were very soaked. They seemed to be more soaked than by simply the result of water pouring out of the interior trim and onto the interior, but I could be wrong.

I have also heard that these cars can leak from the roof rail seals. No sunroof on mine so that's at least ruled out.

Arctic Fox

47 posts

215 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
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Had same on my A6, took the trim off which is a bit of a pain, it was pretty obvious when I used a jetwasher that the leak was around the nearside light fitting. Took it off, cleaned it up, carefully repalced it ( I put some silicon sealant around as well but it's an old car, but I guess vaseline or similar would probably work), Now, no sloshing noises. But I'd check all potential points of entry as others have suggested.