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Shower when opening tailgate

64K views 150 replies 58 participants last post by  Mamil 
#148 ·
My MY20 DS gives me a shower when opening the tailgate after a rainstorm. It happens on both sides and I am considering drilling a couple of holes in the plastic. Has anyone else seen this phenomenon or got a better fix ? Thanks

 
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#1 ·
Hello all,

Q - when the DS has been parked outside in the rain/or washed and I open the tailgate water runs from both sides (about the edge of the light units from behind the anti-trap boot seal).

Local dealer has looked and found that water pools behind the light units in the tailgate and is unable to drain away, only on opening the tailgate does it drain - normally onto your head as the timing is just perfect for leaning into the boot. It doesn't run out even during driving.

A - the dealer contacted JLR and the solution is to drill a hole behind the light unit and allow the water into the tailgate so it can run inside and drain from the drain holes in each corner.

I'm not sure I am happy with the proposed fix...future corrosion issues etc etc. Anyone else had this issue and if so, what has the solution been?

Regards.
 
#2 ·
#3 ·
Thanks Muddywheels,

As I thought, obviously not a new problem then. I did a search on rainwater/tailgate etc but didn't manage to find this thread. Concerns remain, I think as others have said, a wet head and accept the water rather than give future corrosion an opportunity.

Cheers.
 
#4 ·
I don't want mine drilled so I stand back when opening boot and wait until it stops running but occasionally it keeps a bit back and when I place heavy item in boot it catches me :roll:

Early Rrsports had issues with water ingress on tailgate and corrosion of switches so hope this doesn't become a problem

Looks like a design fault but I don't let it spoil my enjoyment
 
#5 ·
Perhaps it was designed that way; to keep us on our toes and test speed of reaction!
:shock:
 
#7 ·
Certainly wakes you up when a cold trickle goes down your neck :lol:
 
#8 ·
I will let the children load the boot (most of what goes in there belong to them!). And the Defender saves the sunroof water leak for our youngest when she sits in the middle seat. :lol: :lol:
 
#9 ·
Have noticed the water run off on mine too....into the car and on the seats via the doors.....or onto your head and onto the boot floor in the back .....fingers crossed that the Dagenham moss doesn't appear in these areas !
 
#10 ·
Muddywheels said:
I've not had a problem with water running into the car, just a delayed pour from the tailgate when it's fully open.

The links above from Muddywheels are worth a read.
 
#11 ·
Moose said:
TOPix LTB896 it shows that a number of holes (5) are drilled into the back of the pinch strip to overcome this water trap effect.
Thanks Moose, that's the proposal from the dealer. Can't visualise where they are going to be drilled - can you get to them to treat with waxoil/PX28 or similar?
 
#13 ·
Anybody had a read or got a copy of Topix L550 Discovery Sport tailgate lamp water ingress and condensation SSM72193 ?
 
#14 ·
Not seen anything on TOPIX ...but took mine to dealer as the right light cluster was misted up ...l. to be told 'it's within accepted tolerance' .....not sure what tolerance that would be...and even if there is a figure !
 
#15 ·
Had same problem with previous MY10 and MY13 rrsports but told it's normal
 
#16 ·
Mine had condensation in the tailgate lamps but it did clear as suggested by LR (which may have been on SSM72193, but they have stated condensation would clear with ambient temperature rise and units were not to be replaced as with RRS it seems).

Think it may have been introduced during a dealer courtesy clean via the jet wash.
 
#17 ·
We had two brand new DS with this issue, both now refunded and we are enjoying our new Range Rover sport, without tailgate leaks. The first leaked and we found it unacceptable, refund actioned, , the second brand new DS came, same problem, holes drilled, not happy about LR instruction for the dealer to do this but went ahead with the advice given, but it still didn't sort the leak. Second refund actioned. We ordered the new dynamic sport in February this year, only to be told that it was being withdrawn from sale and no build slots could be allocated for the foreseeable future. The tailgate issue is well known but LR will not change the design of the tailgate which is where the problem lies. Shame but it seems to me LR expect customers to accept the fault as "normal". Similarly LR state in their handbook that headlights misting up is "normal". Not sure I agree with that one either. I'm glad we insisted prior to taking delivery of our second DS that a no quibble refund would be honoured if the tailgate leaked. The dealer undertook this, not LR who would not give any guarantee that drilling holes would fix the problem. Pity as the DS is a good car. Even our loan vehicle had a tailgate leak!
 
#18 ·
Hi Adw,

Blimey, you seem to have been through it, but I hope you are enjoying the RRS.

The latest from my local dealer today is that the holes are 'drilled into the plastic trims and will remove the issue of welling water'.....I'm not so sure!

I think I will pop in and have him explain the work before I book the job....similar to you, and I know the technicians are trained and can use a drill, but the dealer drilling holes to sort a design problem just doesn't sit right.
 
#19 ·
I am making a game of it, for now, if I open tailgate locally and I remember to dodge to the left, then I am ok, otherwise I get a small cold shower. Quite good fun in the short term, going to try to catch out my chum with this, he has the RRS!!
 
#20 ·
Adw said:
We had two brand new DS with this issue, both now refunded and we are enjoying our new Range Rover sport, without tailgate leaks. The first leaked and we found it unacceptable, refund actioned, , the second brand new DS came, same problem, holes drilled, not happy about LR instruction for the dealer to do this but went ahead with the advice given, but it still didn't sort the leak. Second refund actioned. We ordered the new dynamic sport in February this year, only to be told that it was being withdrawn from sale and no build slots could be allocated for the foreseeable future. The tailgate issue is well known but LR will not change the design of the tailgate which is where the problem lies. Shame but it seems to me LR expect customers to accept the fault as "normal". Similarly LR state in their handbook that headlights misting up is "normal". Not sure I agree with that one either. I'm glad we insisted prior to taking delivery of our second DS that a no quibble refund would be honoured if the tailgate leaked. The dealer undertook this, not LR who would not give any guarantee that drilling holes would fix the problem. Pity as the DS is a good car. Even our loan vehicle had a tailgate leak!
Hi Adw - when you say the tailgate leaked, do you mean into the car while it is closed or is it the soaking on your head when you open it?
I assume that because you have rejected the car, that it must be getting into the interior whilst closed because I don't feel that the issue of getting a wet head is enough to reject the car!
Have booked mine into dealers next week to see if they can resolve the wet head issue with a few holes in what I am led to believe, is a bracket holding the finishers in place. Will let you know the outcome. They are also going to have a look at my issue of delay in gearbox going from reverse to drive.
 
#22 ·
Adw said:
The water was staining the boot cover - water marks left by the leaking rain into the interior - as well as the obligatory shower when opening the tailgate.
Right, beginning to wonder if mine might have the same issue. I've noticed a water stain on the left-hand side of my removable boot cover. Looks like water has dripped near to the tailgate, then run onto the cover pooling further to the centre, presumably with gravity/weight of the water. At first I assumed it was down to messy children/wife. However, I am now suspecting it might be a leak. But, checking the rest of the tailgate and headlining I can't seem to locate a source and/or other staining.

Hopefully I am being paranoid and it is a stain from something being left on the cover. As the DS has been out all winter with all the rain we've had I would have thought a leak would have produced more evidence of existence. More careful attention required. Thanks for the heads-up though Adw.
 
#23 ·
Dashnine said:
Mine had condensation in the tailgate lamps but it did clear as suggested by LR (which may have been on SSM72193, but they have stated condensation would clear with ambient temperature rise and units were not to be replaced as with RRS it seems).

Think it may have been introduced during a dealer courtesy clean via the jet wash.
Mine had condensation in it on the right-hand side on collection. No doubt from the jet wash prior to delivery. You would have thought the dealer might have noticed it before handing it over. But, hey-ho what do you expect when your trying to make a special moment out of £40k+ being paid into your business's account by a customer? A bit of attention to detail?

I digress, I was also told that they would swap it out for a new unit if it didn't go away after a few days. Which I suspected it would do as I have had this happen to other vehicles I've owned/driven at work. To be fair the dealer called back after 3 days to check if they needed to order a new one. But, it had gone once it had stabilised with the surrounding atmosphere. Hasn't come back since. But, I prefer hand-washing a car - if and when I can be bothered. Then again, I am a bit weird in that I don't mind a dirty car - looks like it has been used for what it is intended for. Although a thoroughbred horse looks great after a hard-run race you really should home and hose it! Now I feel bad for not looking after the DS!
 
#24 ·
Hi philstix
Definitely don't think you have a messy wife/kids problem, the water stain on our cover without doubt came from leaking interior after heavy rain. We tested it ourselves using a jet wash to saturate the tailgate, waited a couple of hours and the interior water was in a puddle both sides of the cover as well as dripping out of the tailgate. The seals also had a gap and daylight was visible either side. In our experience drilling holes did not rectify the issue. LR suggested replacing the seals but they never followed through with this.
 
#25 ·
I have this problem as well. My Discovery Sport had its first service yesterday and i told the dealers of my concern. On picking up the car i was told they are awaiting a response from Land Rover as its been a common fault. Im awaiting there phone call but i wasnt given a time scale
 
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