I stay in the Seattle area in Washington state and there was some rain over the past few days. A couple of days back, as I stepped into my car, which is a 2018 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury model, I found my entire windshield was fogged up and the temperature outside was above freezing, so it was kind of unusual. Again yesterday, I found a lot of water in the cup holder, on the floor and also on my front seats. The water was dripping from the three little holes near the front overhead interior lights. I never had this problem before. I checked the sunroof and it was properly closed. I also looked for any debris that may be blocking the drainpipe near the sunroof but did not find anything and it looked pretty clean, at least from the outside. Given the situation in Washington at this time with the coronavirus pandemic, I was not able to reach out to a service specialist over the phone and have a scheduled a call back instead. They have not called back yet. I don't want to give away my car to service at this time unless I get a loaner which I have found pretty hard to get and I want to avoid using public transport and uber/lift as much as possible. I went ahead and ordered an SUV waterproof car cover from Amazon since I have an open parking spot where I stay, but if I do need to take my car out when it's raining outside, is there something that I can do to temporarily fix it? I have attached a couple of pictures highlighting the places where the water is dripping. Thanks.

The holes from where the water is dripping from.

 

I'd tape around the windshield but some tapes leave a residue and will ruin your paint if left too long. Maybe try painter's tape. Not sure if it will come off in the rain. Else electrical tape but I'd remove it and any residue every couple days. Duct tape isn't a good choice in my opinion. Maybe stop by an automobile glass company and ask them for some tape or maybe they will tape it for you.

 

I ordered this tape from Amazon, does this work?


I was thinking of applying the tape on the 3 holes from where it is leaking but I see you mentioned around the windshield. Should I go around the entire windshield? Thanks

 

I'd try taping the top edge and down each side and see if it fixes it. I would not tape those holes inside, where's the water going to go then?
Not sure about that Amazon tape, you can try it. But don't leave it on too long - I've seen many cars that have damaged paint when someone taped around a window and left it too long.
If taping the windshield doesn't fix it, then you can try the sunroof, but leaking windshields is a known problem.

 

Thanks a lot. I will try that.

 

I took my car to the dealership today and they replaced the windshield completely. As you said, it is a known problem and they acknowledged it as well.

 

I had the same problem. Windshield was replaced by dealership but the issue is back. Seems like there are other issues.

 

Water started leaking and falling on gearbox. We had no idea where its coming from. Went to dealer and they told windshield leaking. Its some faulty windshield whose sealing not tight anymore. they told there were some recalls but they have no idea why my vehicle was not recalled. Shocking that luxury vehicle windshield leaking with in 4 years. We hardly drive our car and its parked in garage always. Shouldn't they recall vehicle for any such known problems, instead waiting for customers to get burned and come back.

 

There's no recall. It happens to some cars but not others. So if you have the problem they will replace (at least within warranty). Beyond that you're in your own like any other issues post warranty

Nothing to do with luxury car. The bonding agent and chemicals don't always stick well. Volvo had an issue with this on I think the XC60 for a number of years too.

 

See “2018-03-29 LTB01176 Technical Bulletin Water Ingress Through the A Pillar - Upper Area” and my own post re this issue on Disco Sport Forums UK with photos.



This ongoing water ingress may have caused existing but not yet developed or manifest damage, or damage that is existing but hidden. Damage that could have both structural (rust) and electrical (corrosion) implications that present serious safety, financial, and operational consequences



Structural Implications (Rust) Water has infiltrated the A-pillar area of the vehicle where it has become trapped, leaking into the passenger compartment. This could have led to the formation of rust on the vehicle’s structural components. Rust weakens the metal and compromises the integrity of the A-pillars, which can have several negative consequences:



Safety Concerns: The A-pillars provide crucial structural support to the vehicle’s roof and play a role in maintaining the structural integrity of the passenger compartment during collisions. Rust-induced weakening can compromise this support and increase the risk of injuries in the event of an accident.



Weakening of Structural Components: As rust progresses, it can cause metal parts to weaken, leading to the potential collapse of structural components like the A-pillars. This can affect the overall crash safety of the vehicle, as the A-pillars play a role in maintaining the structural integrity of the passenger compartment during an impact.



Longevity: Rust can spread over time, potentially affecting nearby components as well. If left unchecked, it can significantly reduce the overall lifespan of the vehicle due to accelerated corrosion and structural degradation.



Resale Value: Vehicles with evidence of water ingress will have lower resale value, as potential buyers will be wary of investing in a car with compromised safety and structural integrity.



Electrical Implications (Corrosion) Water ingress into the A-pillars may impact the vehicle’s electrical systems, leading to corrosion and malfunctioning of various electrical components:



Corroded Wiring and Connectors: Water may be seeping into the wiring harnesses located within the A-pillar area and could have led to corrosion of electrical wires, connectors, and components. Corroded wiring could disrupt electrical circuits, leading to malfunctioning of various vehicle systems such as power windows and mirrors, airbags, and the vehicle’s engine control unit.



Electronic Components: Modern vehicles have a variety of electronic modules and sensors located in the A-pillar area. Corrosion caused by water ingress can damage these components, resulting in faulty systems like airbag deployment, lighting, or the infotainment system.



Fire Hazard: Water intrusion into the electrical systems could cause short circuits, leading to overheating and potentially result in electrical fires or other safety hazards.



Increased Repair Costs: Diagnosing and repairing electrical issues caused by the water ingress will be complex and time-consuming, leading to high future repair costs.



Comments To mitigate water ingress implications, manufacturers design vehicles with water management systems, seals, and drainage pathways to prevent water from entering critical areas like the A-pillar. Once water ingress is suspected, it is crucial to address the issue promptly by an authorized service centre to assess and repair any damage before it worsens.



Overall, both structural and electrical damage resulting from water ingress through the upper A-pillar area of the vehicle could have serious safety, financial, and operational consequences, underscoring the importance of addressing such issues as soon as they were detected per JLR Technical Bulletin LTB01176 ‘Water Ingress Through The A-pillar - Upper Area’.