[madchemist8]

I’m having a similar problem and can’t find anything in the internet that similar except your post. My 2016 keep Cherokee latitude has odd smell inside that’s pungent and strong. I looked around to find where it was coming from - in the spare wheel well to find lots of water. I’ve removed everything, including the plastic to pull the carpet up to dry everything out. It’s all dry now, including the thermal fabric on the right and left side. I sprayed the entire car with white vinegar to kill the mold and smell. The smell is returning... this past rain storm I discovered rain coming through the back right speaker holes. Was this similar to your situation? I ask because I’m unsure where it’s coming from. The ski racks looks and radio antenna appear sealed. I’m at a loss.

Were you able to find the source of this leak? I am experiencing the exact symptoms with my 2014 Cherokee that you described. This is a heavy leak that is pouring water out of the side panels below the speaker anytime it rains. I found about 4 gallons of standing water in my spare tire compartment (I have been ignoring the mildew smell for some time now and finally had some time to investigate). The roof rails appear to be water tight.

 

[Flybynightcru]

Were you able to find the source of this leak? I am experiencing the exact symptoms with my 2014 Cherokee that you described. This is a heavy leak that is pouring water out of the side panels below the speaker anytime it rains. I found about 4 gallons of standing water in my spare tire compartment (I have been ignoring the mildew smell for some time now and finally had some time to investigate). The roof rails appear to be water tight.

Sounds like those pesky sealant cracks in the tailgate area. There's an active post about it going on right now. Known DEFECT...Open the gate, look at the drainage channel from the top, where the hinges are, and follow it down both sides...😎

 

[sanghill]

Welcome to the forum.
My 1979 Saab 900 had the perfect solution from the factory. Clever Swedes that they are.
Put a hole in the lowest part of the trunk and put in a rubber flapper valve that let water out and kept dust from coming in.
The REAL problem wasn't solved but at least you didn't have to carry around ballast.
There are flaps that let air out and don't let water enter on the left and right sides in the lower trunk area.
Remove the little cubbies on either side and you can see them. Make sure the flapper valves are ok.
Apparently you do not have a power lift gate.
If you do make sure recall R27 is done.
If you have a sun roof make sure the drain tubes are flowing freely.

 

[AtlCade69]

Mustangs and 'birds had those flaps from the factory (but my Escape didn't, and it was the worst for leaks), they should be in all ALL trunk wells!

 

[Npcincinnati]

Were you able to find the source of this leak? I am experiencing the exact symptoms with my 2014 Cherokee that you described. This is a heavy leak that is pouring water out of the side panels below the speaker anytime it rains. I found about 4 gallons of standing water in my spare tire compartment (I have been ignoring the mildew smell for some time now and finally had some time to investigate). The roof rails appear to be water tight.

 

[Npcincinnati]

It's one or both of your rear sunroof drain hoses! After wasting my time at a Jeep dealership who told me I had a welding structural problem I went to my old foreign auto mechanic that worked on my old VW. With the both back side paneling off, we pulled the inside roof down to find that the left drain hose from the sunroof had become detached. The hoses don't run the full distance from the sunroof to the wheel well where they drain. I'd say about 12 inches from the sunroof the rubber tube has a connection. Mine had separated which resulted in all the rain water flowing down into the wheel well. The mechanic dried it off, put a rubber glue around were the two tubes connect, and connected them. All is fixed and draining properly now. He said that happens because rubber shrinks over time due to extreme heat. The smell has gone away too which I'm relieved about. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[sanghill]

You have also succeeded in reinforcing my idea of why I never buying a sunroof.

 

[Npcincinnati]

Smart thinking. The Jeep you're referring to doesn't have a sunroof? If you say no I'm going to be confused about your water leak.

 

[sanghill]

I don't have a sunroof and I don't have a water leak.
Doesn't even leak when fording streams.

 

[madchemist8]

It's one or both of your rear sunroof drain hoses! After wasting my time at a Jeep dealership who told me I had a welding structural problem I went to my old foreign auto mechanic that worked on my old VW. With the both back side paneling off, we pulled the inside roof down to find that the left drain hose from the sunroof had become detached. The hoses don't run the full distance from the sunroof to the wheel well where they drain. I'd say about 12 inches from the sunroof the rubber tube has a connection. Mine had separated which resulted in all the rain water flowing down into the wheel well. The mechanic dried it off, put a rubber glue around were the two tubes connect, and connected them. All is fixed and draining properly now. He said that happens because rubber shrinks over time due to extreme heat. The smell has gone away too which I'm relieved about. Let me know if you have more questions.

Thank you for the feedback. You were 100% right. Both of my rear moonroof drain lines were significantly restricted with grime/residue causing an overflow into the cargo area. I was able to clear the restriction by threading weed wacker line through the drain lines. Subsequently, I purged the lines with water and finally with compressed air. Now it is time to clear out the standing water and humidity....What a pain! Thanks everyone for the assistance.

 

[Flybynightcru]

Thank you for the feedback. You were 100% right. Both of my rear moonroof drain lines were significantly restricted with grime/residue causing an overflow into the cargo area. I was able to clear the restriction by threading weed wacker line through the drain lines. Subsequently, I purged the lines with water and finally with compressed air. Now it is time to clear out the standing water and humidity....What a pain! Thanks everyone for the assistance.

Be careful with compressed air, you can blow the lines completely off, and then, you just thought the no drain problem was bad...😎

 

[sanghill]

If you used canned air with a fine straw and put the plastic straw down inside the hose, would that work safely?
Canned air like you use to clean a computer.

 

[Flybynightcru]

If you used canned air with a fine straw and put the plastic straw down inside the hose, would that work safely?
Canned air like you use to clean a computer.

I guess that's better than the 100+psi from a standard compressor. I still probably wouldn't. Just proper preventative cleaning measures would alleviate the problem to even happen to begin with. Any sunroof requires preventative maintenance, to include greasing the rails, and other accessible moving parts, and cleaning of the whole mechanism, and drains...😎

 

[Trailhawk17]

Thank you for the feedback. You were 100% right. Both of my rear moonroof drain lines were significantly restricted with grime/residue causing an overflow into the cargo area. I was able to clear the restriction by threading weed wacker line through the drain lines. Subsequently, I purged the lines with water and finally with compressed air. Now it is time to clear out the standing water and humidity....What a pain! Thanks everyone for the assistance.

Where exactly did you locate the rear drain tubes to do this on the panoramic roof?

 

[Mark_]

Where exactly did you locate the rear drain tubes to do this on the panoramic roof?

That member hasn't logged into the forum since the day they posted that, 7 months ago, and they only posted twice. Not sure they'll respond. Perhaps someone else knows where those tubes are located..

 

[Mbellaus92]

Over the last few days we have been getting some rain. I opened the lift gate this morning and opened up the storage area to find that my bungee cords had mold on them. I removed the tray and found that the entire tire well was soaking wet. Nothing in the main cargo area is damp but quite a bit of water came in and was funneled down to the floor. Has anyone else had problems with water leaks? I am currently at the dealer hoping they will dry it out and find the problem. Thanks!

I'm having the same issue... I keep feeling it more and more as it rains it was flowing in really good now it's down to a trickle but I don't see what more I can seal up

 

[Mbellaus92]

If anyone is still reading these lol what I've learn through multiple threads and blogs and from Jeep is there is a recall for the electrical liftgate jeeps cuz it starts fires due to the leak if you don't have the electrical liftgate they don't care. But the top picture you'll see I put sealant along the top of the door jamb or the seal is that's where most of the water was getting in and then along the top for the two body panels meet was the second problem and then the tail light.... I'm STILL getting water but a little amount.... I know alot of people just had water coming in from the top cargo seal I'm just having more issues than normal.... ALSO around the wheel wells there's whites "sealant" and parts where jeep put "patches" that failed miserably.... And my next step once a get it dry is to seal those with a liquid rubber or rubber roofing. I've been logging on daily in hopes of finding someone that's gotten further than me if you have any questions let me know

 

[bobeye1221]

If anyone is still reading these lol what I've learn through multiple threads and blogs and from Jeep is there is a recall for the electrical liftgate jeeps cuz it starts fires due to the leak if you don't have the electrical liftgate they don't care. But the top picture you'll see I put sealant along the top of the door jamb or the seal is that's where most of the water was getting in and then along the top for the two body panels meet was the second problem and then the tail light.... I'm STILL getting water but a little amount.... I know alot of people just had water coming in from the top cargo seal I'm just having more issues than normal.... ALSO around the wheel wells there's whites "sealant" and parts where jeep put "patches" that failed miserably.... And my next step once a get it dry is to seal those with a liquid rubber or rubber roofing. I've been logging on daily in hopes of finding someone that's gotten further than me if you have any questions let me know

I just had my Cherokee in, they found the cracks at the top of the tailgate on both sides (like in the picture), I was getting the same exact thing, water coming in through the speaker holes and into the spare tire well. Here's the thing you need to watch out for that is costing me an arm and a leg. The electronic parking brake module is located below the rear driver's side speaker along the spare tire well. The water leak caused the wiring harness and module to corrode and lock up the emergency brake. I also got hit with cracked oil cooler (on backorder until the second coming of Christ) at the same time, so both of the "WTF were you thinking for not issuing a recall" problems.

 

[Mbellaus92]

View attachment 219191

I just had my Cherokee in, they found the cracks at the top of the tailgate on both sides (like in the picture), I was getting the same exact thing, water coming in through the speaker holes and into the spare tire well. Here's the thing you need to watch out for that is costing me an arm and a leg. The electronic parking brake module is located below the rear driver's side speaker along the spare tire well. The water leak caused the wiring harness and module to corrode and lock up the emergency brake. I also got hit with cracked oil cooler (on backorder until the second coming of Christ) at the same time, so both of the "WTF were you thinking for not issuing a recall" problems.

It's absolutely retarded!!!! I have met 3 other people with jeep Cherokees, latitude and others, just Cherokees in general from 15 to 16 and some 17s ALL HAVE THIS ISSUE!! but there IS a recall BUT ONLY FOR THE JEEPS with the electronic lift in the rear door and cuz it was causing FIRES DUE to them leaking!! But the REST OF US WITH OUT the lift gate are just ****ed!! And at this point I have "sealed" along the whole top, down the sides, ALL around my tail light and it's still leaking in.... ALSO the body "joints" on THE FLOOR and around the actual wheel wells is leaking on the driver's side.... It's killing me.

 

[bobeye1221]

It's absolutely retarded!!!! I have met 3 other people with jeep Cherokees, latitude and others, just Cherokees in general from 15 to 16 and some 17s ALL HAVE THIS ISSUE!! but there IS a recall BUT ONLY FOR THE JEEPS with the electronic lift in the rear door and cuz it was causing FIRES DUE to them leaking!! But the REST OF US WITH OUT the lift gate are just ****ed!! And at this point I have "sealed" along the whole top, down the sides, ALL around my tail light and it's still leaking in.... ALSO the body "joints" on THE FLOOR and around the actual wheel wells is leaking on the driver's side.... It's killing me.

Right there with you, not at all happy with the purchase! Pretty sure Jeep just doesn't care anymore. If they did, they would pay to fix the piss poor body welds that are failing because of no fault of the owners. It would be a PR win for them at a minor cost. What they are getting now is a lot of people never buying another Jeep, I know I'm not and I have a 1998 XJ and 2004 Grand Cherokee sitting in my driveway with less problems than the 2015. I loved the older Cherokees, when I was in the service I brought a 1999 xj to Bahrain with me in 2007, and I still hear stories of it still being driven around out there. It had 260k+ on it when I left in 2009.