After a rain or a wash has anyone noticed water / moisture coming from the rear hatch? I washed the Runner last night and was wiping down the door jambs etc.. With the rear hatch open I noticed water "seaping" from the bottom of where the grab handles are inserted into the hatch. I pulled the grab handles and took a peak through the opening with a flashlight and noticed a little water inside the hatch. This is on my 2021 TRD ORP. I wasn't totally surprised because I noticed the same issue on my 2012 Trail but didn't think much of it. I know the drain holes in the bottom of the hatch are to drain any water that does get inside the hatch but was wondering if anyone else noticed it on their Runner. All the trim and weather stripping is tight and firm. I was going to check my wife's 2017 Sequoia Limited but there are no grab handles or other access points to take a look into the hatch. Again, just an old retired guy with too much time on his hands so I thought I'd ask the forum.

Thanks

IMO worse part of 4r is the roll down window. Where you live that will turn to rust. If the window moves it will leak water.

You think the 4R is bad you should try owning an older Bronco..those were notorious for water penetrating via clogged drainage holes and bad weather stripping. I would assume Toyota has done a much better job with solving for this problem..that area is never going to be water tight, so if some water finds it's way into the tailgate it will run out of the holes, but it should never makes it's way into the cargo area.

I noticed this too. I took some fluid film and sprayed it up in the drain holes, used an extension wand and tried my best to get fluid film along the bottom seam of the tailgate. I suppose removing all the trim, window motor assembly etc and painting/sealing/doing something to the metal underneath would be a better option but to me it wasn't worth it. you don't see too many 5th gens with rusted through tailgates. mine is 10 years old and seems fine

Same here. In fact, after a heavy rain when I pop the hatch open the weather stripping on the bottom has water inside the channel which leads me to believe somehow water ends up running down the inner wall of the hatch where it shouldn't be.

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All doors including the tailgate designed to allow some water in, thus drain holes in them. Make sure those aren't blocked and don't worry. Non issue.

I have a 2014 and at some point I am going to have to replace the entire rear hatch. If I pull the plastic cover off of the latch area it is covered in rust. About the only thing I’ve done so far is apply some POR15 over the rust to slow it down.


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I had the same issue after taking interior panel off and installing OEM speakers . The water comes in the out board edges of the window seal. The push pins that hold the interior panel have rubber seals,if they are not seated all the way they will leak into the interior panel then the cargo area.Also notice the speakers were getting wet, so I got speaker baffles to keep them dry. I had to replace some rubber seals , and add some tape inside the hatch to deflect the water away from the push pins. The interior panel holds the widow seal tight,so it needs to be installed correctly , and the push pins need to be water tight.There is two plastic inserts in the bottom of the hatch , pop these out to get a look inside .

Old thread but having the same problem with my 5th gen. Rain filling up the tailgate. Currently trying to find parts # for the weatherstripping