5 Reasons Why the Carpet in Your Vehicle is Wet

June 15th, 2023

At Nate Wade Subaru, we don't just offer fantastic deals on Subaru cars and SUVs. We are committed to supporting you throughout your entire Subaru journey, ensuring it remains enjoyable and long-lasting. As part of this commitment, we provide helpful tips to troubleshoot common issues that vehicle owners encounter. By identifying whether the problem is easily fixable or requires attention from our factory-trained and certified technicians, you can make informed decisions about seeking professional service. There are several simple reasons why you may find the floor of your Subaru occasionally wet. One common cause is when you or your passengers enter the vehicle after being exposed to rain, snow, or puddles. Similarly, if you accidentally left the windows open, assuming it wouldn't rain but were proven wrong, it's easy to understand the source of the moisture. Additionally, if your Subaru has a faint aroma of apple juice, it's likely that one of your children spilled or left their boxed drink in the back seat. To address such situations, we recommend installing genuine Subaru all-weather floor mats designed specifically to fit and safeguard your vehicle's make and model.

However, if you discover a small, unexpectedly wet area on your Subaru's carpet, you may only notice it when the cabin feels slightly humid or there's an unidentified faint odor. In such cases, it's important to thoroughly examine every inch of the carpet by firmly pressing it with your bare fingers. If you come across a damp spot that doesn't resemble a pet accident, it's likely due to one of the following five causes:

If you find water accumulation below one of the side doors, it could indicate a problem with the weather stripping on that particular door. When you open your doors or trunk, you may have noticed a flexible rubber or spongy material along their inner edges. This material is known as weather stripping, and its purpose is to create a tight seal between the door and the body of your Subaru when it is closed. This seal effectively prevents wind, water, and dust from entering the cabin. Since the weather stripping undergoes flexing and compression each time the door is opened and closed, it is subject to wear and tear. While most parts of your Subaru may outlast the weather stripping, faults in this component can occasionally be difficult to identify. However, if you observe any cracks, gaps, or areas where the weather stripping has become detached from the door, it is certainly a potential cause for water seepage into the cabin.

If you notice water pooling on or beneath your dashboard, it may indicate a problem with the seal around your windshield. Among all the windows in your vehicle, the windshield is exposed to the harshest elements. It endures the wind resistance while driving and bears the impact of rain and debris. Although the seal around the windshield is designed to be durable like the rest of your Subaru, small leaks in the seal can occur. These leaks are often not significant enough to cause water to drip directly, but rather the water tends to follow the edge of the windshield, eventually reaching the dashboard. In some cases, it may even find its way inside and underneath the dashboard.

If you find water on the sides of your cabin, specifically in the area near your sunroof, it is likely that the water is coming from a leaking sunroof or moonroof. One might assume that a leak would result in water dripping directly onto the occupants or the seats, considering its proximity above their heads. However, sunroofs and moonroofs are equipped with grooves designed to facilitate water drainage, directing it around the opening and down to the ground. In cases where the drainage grooves are not functioning properly, water from a leak tends to adhere to the roof's surface and follow its curved shape towards the sides. Eventually, it makes its way down to the floor.

If you discover water beneath the dashboard on the passenger side of your vehicle, it may be originating from the heater core. As you may already know, the heater in your Subaru operates by utilizing heat from the engine. This process involves circulating heated coolant through coiled pipes, which are equipped with a fan that blows the heat off the coils and into the cabin. The assembly consisting of these coils and fan is known as the heater core, typically located behind the dashboard on the right side.When a leak occurs in the heater core, it is likely to result in coolant dripping onto the cabin floor. It's important to note that this fluid is coolant and not plain water, which gives it a slightly sweet smell. Engine coolant is often brightly colored, but it may be challenging to discern the color of a small amount against the color of your carpet.

If you find water underneath your dashboard, another potential cause could be a clogged or disconnected drain line from the air conditioner. The cooling coils within the air conditioner are colder than the surrounding air, causing moisture in the air to condense on them and eventually drip off. The air conditioner is specifically designed to capture this condensation and channel it away through a small drainage hose. However, if this hose develops a crack or becomes detached, it can lead to water leakage onto the floor. Fortunately, addressing this issue is a straightforward and cost-effective task that can be efficiently handled by the certified technicians in our Service Department.

Learn More About Your Subaru

• Discover 6 possible reasons your check engine light may come on.
• How to replace a fuse in your vehicle.
• Some reasons your Subaru dash lights may not be working.
• Find out what the different colors of smoke from your vehicle's tailpipe may mean.
• Information about our Subaru Certified Collision Center.
• In a hurry? Learn about our Subaru Express Service option.
• Discover why you should choose Nate Wade Subaru for your vehicle's service.
• Go here to schedule service for you Subaru.