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Water in passenger foot area

Dram789

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California
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2020 explorer st
#1
Hey guys, I’m new here and am having an issue with my 2020 explorer st. With all the rain that’s been hitting us in Cali I finally got to driving our ST today and the passenger foot area was completed flooded with water. I’m gonna try to drop it off for service tomorrow, but do y’all know what it could be? I’m still under warranty so hopefully it’ll get taken care of quickly
 

bosephbarking

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U.S. Air Force Veteran
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GA
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2023 Explorer ST
#2
Battery cover or moonroof drains. You can check the battery cover easily by just popping the hood. The cover should be firmly snapped in place and resting against the rubber. It is on your passenger side.
 

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Dram789

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2020 explorer st
Thread Starter #3
Battery cover or moonroof drains. You can check the battery cover easily by just popping the hood. The cover should be firmly snapped in place and resting against the rubber. It is on your passenger side.
Yeah service ppl said something similar might be an issue, but refused to give me a loaner until it was diagnosed
 

bosephbarking

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2023 Explorer ST
#4
I will never own another massive moonroof. My Jetta sportwagen gave me my fill of dealing with water intrusion. Thankfully the second and third times only filled my spare location with water. The first time was covered by the CPO.

It isn't worth paying them 1500 dollars for the risk of having a pool in your vehicle.
 

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Dram789

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2020 explorer st
Thread Starter #5
This is def the most problematic vehicle I’ve owned. Had seat issues, water issues, meh interior, and the recalls. Absolutely love the way it drives though and that’s why I got it so as long as it’s fixed I’m fine.
 

Messages
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103
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Location
SE Texas
Vehicle
2020 Silver Spruce Explorer ST
#6
Hey guys, I’m new here and am having an issue with my 2020 explorer st. With all the rain that’s been hitting us in Cali I finally got to driving our ST today and the passenger foot area was completed flooded with water. I’m gonna try to drop it off for service tomorrow, but do y’all know what it could be? I’m still under warranty so hopefully it’ll get taken care of quickly
Went through this a couple of months ago with my dealer, who insisted that the clogged sunroof drains were not a warranty item (am also still under B2B), to which I begged to differ.

The bottom line was that it cost me $375 to have the drains cleared (headliner has to be dropped), and I have opened a case with Ford as given the propensity of this issue, it is quite obviously a design flaw.

Be sure to post back with your diagnosis/results.
 

OP
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Dram789

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2020 explorer st
Thread Starter #7
Went through this a couple of months ago with my dealer, who insisted that the clogged sunroof drains were not a warranty item (am also still under B2B), to which I begged to differ.

The bottom line was that it cost me $375 to have the drains cleared (headliner has to be dropped), and I have opened a case with Ford as given the propensity of this issue, it is quite obviously a design flaw.

Be sure to post back with your diagnosis/results.
damn that sucks. I guess it’s fine if it comes to that, but on a vehicle of this price it’s still frustrating to have this issue. Hopefully they honor it under warranty because it seems like it’s a common thing at this point. I’m under bumper to bumper and have the extended warranty over that as well
 

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Location
SE Texas
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2020 Silver Spruce Explorer ST
#8
damn that sucks. I guess it’s fine if it comes to that, but on a vehicle of this price it’s still frustrating to have this issue. Hopefully they honor it under warranty because it seems like it’s a common thing at this point. I’m under bumper to bumper and have the extended warranty over that as well
Fully understanding how most dealerships operate, I am not too hopeful with regard to the warranty claim itself, but will wait to see what Ford has to say.

That said, I replaced an over 16-year-old, 400+HP GM SUV with this vehicle as GM does not still build 400+HP SUVs under $100K, so this is my first Ford vehicle in about twenty years. Thus far, I have to say that I am disappointed with the build quality, the general performance of the vehicle (my TBSS would have easily walked it), but most of all, by the underperformance of my local dealer Joe Myers Ford.

It's early on, so things could change, but definitely not off to a great start.
 

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Dram789

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2020 explorer st
Thread Starter #9
Just adding an update: local dealer called me in the morning and stated that the cowl wasn’t seated correctly because it had warped and that’s why water was entering the foot area. They’re replacing the part under warranty.
 

Dgoebel57

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#10
Just discovered that my '20 ST has a 1/4 separation from the bottom edge of the windshield to the sealing gasket. (Maybe that warped Cowl Dram789 wrote about). I can see debris inside the gap, so I'm gonna try and clean it out and either seal it myself or take it to an automotive glass shop. (I'm out of warranty).
 

hbalek

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#11
Just discovered that my '20 ST has a 1/4 separation from the bottom edge of the windshield to the sealing gasket. (Maybe that warped Cowl Dram789 wrote about). I can see debris inside the gap, so I'm gonna try and clean it out and either seal it myself or take it to an automotive glass shop. (I'm out of warranty).
The worst gap I have on my 2020 is between the top edge of the hood and the cowl area which fills up with snow and ice in the winter and leaves and other debris the rest of the time. It's really annoying especially if you need to use the wipers and the debris inside that area really interferes with base of the wiper arms. I also hate the scooped out hood which fills with water after a rainstorm if you're parked uphill. I don't want my car hood to be used as a birdbath.
 

Dgoebel57

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#12
Turns out my passenger side cowl wasn't warped at all, just not fully seated. I opened the hood and just pushed back on the cowl piece and it snapped under the windshield. Tested with a 1/2 gallon of water, no leaks. Photos of before and after 2020 ST Passenger side Windshield cowl gap Before and After.jpg
 



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