[jrmgkia]

Unfortunately, I have to park my Lightning outside and we have had torrential rain in NorCal the last couple weeks. With all this rain I’ve noticed whenever I slow down or speed up water sloshes front to back to somewhere in the truck. It sounds like up in the sunroof area, but when I open the sunroof I don’t see any water accumulated up there. I don't think I'd even hear it in a ICE vehicle but the Lightning is so crazy quiet, big difference from my Ram 2500 DieseL. Anyone else noticed this? Any idea where the water is accumulating?

 

[Miskatonic]

I was in the same rain storm and have driven my Lariat since it rained. Water sloshing around is obviously not normal. I can't even imagine where water could be hiding out within the truck. Maybe, possibly you are hearing wiper fluid?

 

[R.I.P.]

I was in the same rain storm and have driven my Lariat since it rained. Water sloshing around is obviously not normal. I can't even imagine where water could be hiding out within the truck. Maybe, possibly you are hearing wiper fluid?

The most common place water collects is inside the door, when the drains get plugged... & Yeah, you can hear it sloshing around. But you say yours is overhead; that one is a puzzler.🤔

 

[jrmgkia]

The most common place water collects is inside the door, when the drains get plugged... & Yeah, you can hear it sloshing around. But you say yours is overhead; that one is a puzzler.🤔

It could be in the passenger door. I really can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from. I’ll have my wife listen next time we go out, I’m sure she’ll love the task 😂

 

[BarryB]

It could be in the passenger door. I really can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from. I’ll have my wife listen next time we go out, I’m sure she’ll love the task 😂

This was a widespread problem in F150’s with the panoramic sunroof. The drain from the sunroof can clog and you end up with water in the doors. Water can also leak down and fill the glove box. I was hoping by now Ford would have fixed this design flaw. My 2017 model had little rubber stoppers at the bottom of each door that when removed would allow the water to drain.

 

[TechDaddy3x]

With the lack of engine noise, any accumulated water in the roof or panels may sound like it’s trapped when if fact it’s just rolling off the roof. Most likely just navigating as designed. 🤞

 

[Obi66]

I'm in Nor Cal and parked outside..... and I"m hearing sloshing too. I thought it was the sunroof, but when my 9 year old son was in the back he said it was in the rear passenger door. I haven't had a chance to troubleshoot, but I'm gonna go after the door drain first. If it ever stops raining.

 

[Obi66]

I want to revive this post. Just like @jrmgkia I had to park outside during the 3 weeks of torrential rain in No California around the 1st of the year. I started to hear water sloshing on the right side of the cabin. My son (who sits back there) thought it was in the read passenger door. The door drains were open, the sunroof looked dry, I couldn't find the water.

It sloshed around for weeks, then finally went away. But now I've got a moldy smell in the car. I still can't find water or anything wet. Does anybody have any ideas? I'll have to take it to the dealer eventually, but I don't have much confidence in them. @jrmgkia - did you figure anything out? Did it go away? thanks in advance

 

[R.I.P.]

I want to revive this post. Just like @jrmgkia I had to park outside during the 3 weeks of torrential rain in No California around the 1st of the year. I started to hear water sloshing on the right side of the cabin. My son (who sits back there) thought it was in the read passenger door. The door drains were open, the sunroof looked dry, I couldn't find the water.

It sloshed around for weeks, then finally went away. But now I've got a moldy smell in the car. I still can't find water or anything wet. Does anybody have any ideas? I'll have to take it to the dealer eventually, but I don't have much confidence in them. @jrmgkia - did you figure anything out? Did it go away? thanks in advance

Do you see rubber drain plugs in the bottom of the door when it's open?

 

[Obi66]

Do you see rubber drain plugs in the bottom of the door when it's open?

No, they look like this:

 

[R.I.P.]

No, they look like this:

View attachment 6243

Hum. Definitely should drain fine with those holes...

 

[jrmgkia]

Turns out the water was not in the doors. It was draining inside my truck, they pulled the drain plugs and drained the excess water out. All the carpet under the passenger front and rear mats was soaking wet (you have to press down hard on the carpet to feel the dampness).
They wanted to pull down the headliner and pull out all of the carpet to investigate and I just wasn’t ready to have my new truck rattle, like it inevitably will after such a procedure.
I figure I’ll park it inside during rain storms at least for the first year or so. Maybe in that time someone else here will post a solution that doesn’t involve tearing the whole truck apart on a wild goose chase.

 

[cabletec715]

Where did the pull the drain plugs?

 

[ProjectMayhem]

Had the same sloshing thing except worse, water was literally spilling out of the passenger floor on any turns. Dealer couldn't identify the leak and tried to dry it out but carpets under the floor are all damp. Bringing it back to dealer next week so they can have a few days to diagnose but at least I know I'm not the only one.

 

[Obi66]

Here's what I have found out: after researching online and talking with my dealer service rep, this is not unheard of in F150's with the Panoramic sunroof (Lightning or ICE). A common theme that is emerging for me is that the trucks with problems were parked facing downhill in heavy rainfall. The front passenger side drain in the sunroof seems to get overwhelmed and, even if not blocked, couldn't handle the rate of flow and overflowed. All the problems seem to be on the passenger side and the water ends up under the carpets. Mine is at the dealer now - they are pulling the carpets, but I expect they will need to be replaced because mold has set in already. They are testing the drains, but I bet they will be fine - It's a new truck and has never been parked under a tree or vegetation, etc.

@ProjectMayhem - I would not delay getting the truck to the dealer - once the mold starts you are done and will need the carpets replaced. Maybe that's already the plan for you, not sure....

I will know more tomorrow.

 

[ProjectMayhem]

Here's what I have found out: after researching online and talking with my dealer service rep, this is not unheard of in F150's with the Panoramic sunroof (Lightning or ICE). A common theme that is emerging for me is that the trucks with problems were parked facing downhill in heavy rainfall. The front passenger side drain in the sunroof seems to get overwhelmed and, even if not blocked, couldn't handle the rate of flow and overflowed. All the problems seem to be on the passenger side and the water ends up under the carpets. Mine is at the dealer now - they are pulling the carpets, but I expect they will need to be replaced because mold has set in already. They are testing the drains, but I bet they will be fine - It's a new truck and has never been parked under a tree or vegetation, etc.

@ProjectMayhem - I would not delay getting the truck to the dealer - once the mold starts you are done and will need the carpets replaced. Maybe that's already the plan for you, not sure....

I will know more tomorrow.

@Obi66 - Just left mine with dealership to diagnose. Were you able to get any answers?

 

[Obi66]

@Obi66 - Just left mine with dealership to diagnose. Were you able to get any answers?

Yes. Rear cabin vents. These are in the lower back area of the cab between the cab and the bed, behind the jack. I've read that these have been problems on other F series trucks. Dealer said they were "defective" - I'm not sure what this means, I need to get more information from them. Not sure if it was a manufacturing problem or build problem (the sealant or something like that). Mine were replaced, but the seats and carpets had to come out to dry them out and the bed had to be loosened to get the vents in. I will pick up next week and hopefully have more information.

 

[Obi66]

Another update - rear cabin vents fixed. Dealer told me that the carpets were dried and truck ready to go. I picked it up. The truck was not ready to go. Horrible mold smell, undrivable. Took it back to the dealer, they got approval to replace the carpets from the Warranty department - but they are backordered, off backorder 3/21, won't arrive to dealer until 1st week of April. Best case is I can't drive the truck for 6 weeks. Ford corporate got back to me with a cryptic offer "if you would like to submit for Ford to repurchase or replace your vehicle then I can submit that for you."

I don't even know what to make of that offer. Will I get the same price? Will I get the tax rebate from 2022? How long will this take?? Obviously, I have to talk to them directly, but does anyone have any suggestions or experience in this realm??

thanks

 

[jrmgkia]

I have an appointment in two weeks to get mine looked at. It had so much water sloshing around the passenger side floor boards I drilled a hole through the floorboard to drain the standing water out. I noticed the carpet padding was starting to feel slimy and I’m concerned it is going to have a serious funk soon. We’ve got another 10 days of rain in our forecast so it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

 

[ProjectMayhem]

Update: Dealer said they couldn't find any leaks. Also told me that carpets were dried and truck was ready to go. I got there, immediately lifted up wet carpet, stuck my hand underneath the carpet and showed them my hand, dripping with water. I got an "Oh yeah, that is still wet". @Obi66 - I plan to chat with corporate today. Good questions to raise. Replacement option is especially troublesome given the recent stop work due to battery issues. Others order holders from my build group have had their deliveries pushed back months.