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Zefer

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
So I spent time with my 21 XSE hybrid the other day including upgrading the dash and front door speakers for a nice set of kenwoods pretty straight forward and a HUGE difference ( I have the jbl system…not impressed )
In doing so I found Both front doors were wet ? I have noticed when washing the rav that every time I roll the windows up or down they’re wet. I looked at the felt belt molding with the felt wiper and it seems ok ?
Anyone else come across this ?
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Ok I get the TSB remedy however that only addresses the symptoms.How is water getting into the door in the first place ? I mean there’s only the felt molding and common sense would indicate that’s how water is getting in
So while clearing the drains is a no brainer I still have a wet window every time I roll it up or down? I am almost ready to just order new molding and see what happens
Anybody got perspective on this “dilemma “
 
#4 ·
It's very hard to keep water out of anything, and that's true just about everywhere, cars, buildings, etc. Our homes are not water tight, and our cars are not water tight. More often than not, the better solution is to deflect water and give it a path to escape.

In any car, water is going to get in the doors by running down the windows. The trick is to deflect the water away from anything it could harm and then give it a place to drain. The TSB referenced above is to remedy Toyota's failure in giving the water a place to drain.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks and I get it…I ordered the belt moulding for all 4 doors. I have the drains cleared. I guess it’s one more thing I have to live with. I love this Rav however there’s some “head scratching” over silly stuff I’ll keep the progress updated
 
#6 ·
So what speakers did you use in the dash and front door?
What stopped you from tackling the rear door speakers, or are you planning on doing that after getting used to the difference the fronts make?
 
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#9 ·
Zefer said:
So I spent time with my 21 XSE hybrid the other day including upgrading the dash and front door speakers for a nice set of kenwoods pretty straight forward and a HUGE difference ( I have the jbl system…not impressed )
In doing so I found Both front doors were wet ? I have noticed when washing the rav that every time I roll the windows up or down they’re wet. I looked at the felt belt molding with the felt wiper and it seems ok ?
Anyone else come across this ?
Click to expand...
 
#10 · (Edited)
There is water getting inside my door and sloshing around....and I'm angry, I don't care what anyone tells you, I've had cars all my life as many of you have probably had, and this never happened before....????? Do don't buy the Kool aide? This is a problem Toyota has been having with 2018 to 2022 Toyota's in several models....the dealer wanted to charge me 396.00 to place all new weather stripping around (1) door. There is also a fix that you can drill the holes larger on all four doors, b/c water brings in dirt, dust, pollen, and clogs the holes up, but the fact is, and I don't know how true this is, but water gets inside all the doors on all cars, because they have these holes on the bottom that allows the water to escape? If you don't fix it, down the road, your going to have mold problems. Now the Toyota service departments know about this, and for me, I will never ever buy another Toyota...ever! Why? Because the service departments for Toyota knew about this and yet, wanted to charge me almost 400.00 to fix the problem on one door? My car is only 4 years old??????? Ya'll need to contact NHTSA the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration @ 888-327-4236 and let them know about this, b/c they are the ones who can institute a recall on this....the safety issue here is Mold and the door Rusting, which they will ask you. This is Toyota's failure to use weather stripping that is full proof, around the doors. Again, they will try to tell you this happens to other cars and I'm 75 years old, and have tons of cars both old and new, and this has never happened before
 
#11 ·
agreed, dealer should remedy for no cost
---

cars doors are meant to get water inside them when it rains
so... how toyota dropped the ball on the rav4 gasket is a mystery to me

my three other toyotas never ever had an issue with door sloshing and
they stay outside 24x7x365. 2022 rav4 doesn't have an issue but I'm
expecting it someday, but maybe it won't happen
 
#12 ·
crisps said:
agreed, dealer should remedy for no cost
---

cars doors are meant to get water inside them when it rains
so... how toyota dropped the ball on the rav4 gasket is a mystery to me

my three other toyotas never ever had an issue with door sloshing and
they stay outside 24x7x365. 2022 rav4 doesn't have an issue but I'm
expecting it someday, but maybe it won't happen
Click to expand...
The only way that is going to happen is if all those having this problem do the following. Call the NHTSA (Nat'l Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 888-327-4236 and let them know this is happening to your car...as this is a mold and rust problem on the door. If they get enough calls they will issue a recall, so save your receipt if you paid to have it fixed and you will be reimbursed, but I was told everyone needs to call who is having this problem in order for them to issue a recall...it can't just be me....so please do so. Toyota or any other Automobile Manufacturer does not issue a recall, the NHTSA does, when they receive enough complaints. So, copy and paste this to spread the word please....the call will only take you 5 minutes....at the most...they are quick and will give you a case number after it's investigated. Thank you.
 
#13 ·
Zefer said:
Ok I get the TSB remedy however that only addresses the symptoms.How is water getting into the door in the first place ? I mean there’s only the felt molding and common sense would indicate that’s how water is getting in
So while clearing the drains is a no brainer I still have a wet window every time I roll it up or down? I am almost ready to just order new molding and see what happens
Anybody got perspective on this “dilemma “
Click to expand...
-
Water is getting into the door b/c the seal is failing....the seal needs to be replaced and don't let them tell you this occurs in all cars, b/c it doesn't....report the problem to the Nat'l Highway Traffic Safety Administration as they are -the ones who will issue a recall for a complete fix. Their number is 888-327-4236 they will log it and investigate it, but believe me, Toyota is well aware of this problem.
 
#14 ·
cremebrulee said:
..the seal needs to be replaced and don't let them tell you this occurs in all cars, b/c it doesn't.
Click to expand...
cremebrulee said:
There is water getting inside my door and sloshing around....and I'm angry, I don't care what anyone tells you, I've had cars all my life as many of you have probably had, and this never happened before....?????
Click to expand...
Water in car doors used to be common in the 1970s. I had a Volvo 122 and a Volvo 144 and VW Rabbits and Sciroccos that retained a quart of water in the doors and severely rusted out their bottoms. There were NOT even any drain holes back then...I used to drill them in myself. I did NOT have this problem after the 1980s. My "84 Bronco II and 2003 Jeep Liberty never had water in the doors. My '21 RAV XLE has still not gotten any water in its doors after 3 years of regular car washing and PNW frog choker rain. I have not bothered to do the weatherstrip cutting fix. Maybe I'm just lucky or my Canadian car was built carefully when the factory was periodically running during Covid.
 
#15 ·
cremebrulee said:
The only way that is going to happen is if all those having this problem do the following. Call the NHTSA (Nat'l Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 888-327-4236 and let them know this is happening to your car...as this is a mold and rust problem on the door.
Click to expand...
Useless to call them. The "S" NHTSA means safety. Water in the doors is not a safety issue.

cremebrulee said:
Water is getting into the door b/c the seal is failing....the seal needs to be replaced and donUsel't let them tell you this occurs in all cars, b/c it doesn't....
Click to expand...
The seal is not failing. Mine still look like new. The problem is the seal partially covers the drain holes, and any debris just compounds the problem. Yes, Toyota could have made the drain holes bigger, or they could have placed the seal differently so the drain holes are not partially covered, or put notches in the seal.


Tazio Nuvolari said:
Maybe I'm just lucky or my Canadian car was built carefully when the factory was periodically running during Covid.
Click to expand...
One problem that aggravates the issue is the wax that Toyota uses when making some panels. Not sure exactly what it is and why Toyota uses it, but in hot weather, the wax melts and runs down to the lowest level. When inspecting my drain holes, there was a lot of wax that was partially blocking the holes. I cleaned the wax off as best I could and cut the notches in the seal.

I have a fair amount of this wax running out the holes at the front of the hood. Drips on the edge of the headlights. I clean it off from time to time.

Question: Is there a seal with the notches already cut? Part number? I have not heard of such a thing yet. What is put on the latest RAVs?
 
#16 ·
FKHeath said:
One problem that aggravates the issue is the wax that Toyota uses when making some panels. Not sure exactly what it is and why Toyota uses it, but in hot weather, the wax melts and runs down to the lowest level. When inspecting my drain holes, there was a lot of wax that was partially blocking the holes. I cleaned the wax off as best I could and cut the notches in the seal.
Click to expand...
About two weeks ago I pulled down the rubber weatherstrips at the bottom of all 4 side doors to check those drain holes because I was curious after reading this and previous door water threads. The drain holes were all CLEAN and CLEAR. I had none of that reported wax. No water came out. I have read about that wax used in RAV4s interior panels but I personally have not seen it in my '21. Like I said...maybe I'm lucky or my '21 was more carefully built when the factory in Canada was periodically opening and closing during Covid. Maybe the workers were more conscientious or the cars were inspected better since they were making so few of them.
 
#17 ·
Tazio Nuvolari said:
Water in car doors used to be common in the 1970s. I had a Volvo 122 and a Volvo 144 and VW Rabbits and Sciroccos that retained a quart of water in the doors and severely rusted out their bottoms. There were NOT even any drain holes back then...I used to drill them in myself. I did NOT have this problem after the 1980s. My "84 Bronco II and 2003 Jeep Liberty never had water in the doors. My '21 RAV XLE has still not gotten any water in its doors after 3 years of regular car washing and PNW frog choker rain. I have not bothered to do the weatherstrip cutting fix. Maybe I'm just lucky or my Canadian car was built carefully when the factory was periodically running during Covid.
Click to expand...
yes, but this is not the 1970's and the seal, weather stripping around the door should not be failing...yes, you are lucky b/c it IS happening....otherwise, I wouldn't be wasting my time in here trying to explain this to folks that are having the same issue and there are a lot....between 2018 and 2023.
 
#19 ·
FKHeath said:
Useless to call them. The "S" NHTSA means safety. Water in the doors is not a safety issue.


The seal is not failing. Mine still look like new. The problem is the seal partially covers the drain holes, and any debris just compounds the problem. Yes, Toyota could have made the drain holes bigger, or they could have placed the seal differently so the drain holes are not partially covered, or put notches in the seal.



One problem that aggravates the issue is the wax that Toyota uses when making some panels. Not sure exactly what it is and why Toyota uses it, but in hot weather, the wax melts and runs down to the lowest level. When inspecting my drain holes, there was a lot of wax that was partially blocking the holes. I cleaned the wax off as best I could and cut the notches in the seal.

I have a fair amount of this wax running out the holes at the front of the hood. Drips on the edge of the headlights. I clean it off from time to time.

Question: Is there a seal with the notches already cut? Part number? I have not heard of such a thing yet. What is put on the latest RAVs?
Click to expand...

The seal is most certainly failing, Maintenance at the Toyota dealer said it was and also said, it's doing it on rav 4's and other models as well. this is not something normal. And it is most certainly a safety issue with MOLD and the car door rusting out....
 
#20 ·
Tazio Nuvolari said:
About two weeks ago I pulled down the rubber weatherstrips at the bottom of all 4 side doors to check those drain holes because I was curious after reading this and previous door water threads. The drain holes were all CLEAN and CLEAR. I had none of that reported wax. No water came out. I have read about that wax used in RAV4s interior panels but I personally have not seen it in my '21. Like I said...maybe I'm lucky or my '21 was more carefully built when the factory in Canada was periodically opening and closing during Covid. Maybe the workers were more conscientious or the cars were inspected better since they were making so few of them.
Click to expand...
your very fortunate, don't worry then, there are a lot of people out there having this problem, I am one of them, you can actually hear the water sloshing back and forth when driving.
 
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Zefer
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