Water leaking into hatchback and tire well... anyone dealt with this?

Hey everyone, I’ve been having some major issues with water leaks in my 2016 Escape. Since I bought it, there’s always been something wrong. First, water started pooling in the tire well, so I’ve had to pull the tire out and clean out the water every time it rains. Now, I’m noticing water damage near the right rear window in the roof lining, and it’s dripping through a box on the right-hand side.

I’ve seen some YouTube videos about fixing this, but I don’t have the tools or experience to do it myself. I’m thinking of taking it to a dealership or a body shop. I live in Florida, so rain is a constant issue, and I need to get this fixed ASAP. Has anyone else had this problem? What did it cost to get it fixed?

Do you have roof racks? If so, it’s probably leaking at the rear roof rack pylon. If you don’t have roof racks, do you have a sunroof? You’d need to check the roof drains. Another possibility is the antenna. These issues have come up a lot here. You might want to search for similar threads in the forum.

@Dezi
I don’t have roof racks or a sunroof. There’s a tire well drain, but it’s clogged. I’ve been reading through some posts, and I’m seeing quotes anywhere from $170 to $900. I think I’ll have to take it to the dealership, but honestly, I’m so frustrated with this car.

If there’s no roof racks or sunroof, my guess would be the roof caulking has a crack under the ditch molding.

Dezi said:
If there’s no roof racks or sunroof, my guess would be the roof caulking has a crack under the ditch molding.

Ugh, I actually have some caulk at home. Do you think this is something I could DIY, or should I leave it to a body shop?

It depends. If the seam has opened, a shop is your best bet. If it’s just a cracked body sealant, you might be able to handle it yourself. Also, even though you don’t have roof racks, there are still bolts and seals under the roof trim where the racks would’ve been. Ford used the same panels across all trims.

@Blaine
Thanks for explaining that! Do you have any idea what it might cost to fix this? I’m going to start calling around for quotes.

Bryce said:
@Blaine
Thanks for explaining that! Do you have any idea what it might cost to fix this? I’m going to start calling around for quotes.

When my daughter had the right seam resealed on her 2014 Escape Titanium, the shop charged her $230.

This sounds like a pretty common issue with the Escapes. Have you checked to see if the drain holes are clogged? That could be contributing to the problem.

Sloan said:
This sounds like a pretty common issue with the Escapes. Have you checked to see if the drain holes are clogged? That could be contributing to the problem.

Yeah, the tire well drain is definitely clogged. I saw a video showing how to clear it, but it looks like a lot of work without the right tools.

I had a similar issue with my 2015 Escape. Turned out to be a crack near the antenna seal. Once they fixed it, no more leaks.

Lennox said:
I had a similar issue with my 2015 Escape. Turned out to be a crack near the antenna seal. Once they fixed it, no more leaks.

Good to know! I’ll mention the antenna seal when I take it in. Thanks for sharing your experience!