Rear Hatch Liftgate Leak (with pictures)

Wheezy · Mar 28, 2008

Forgive me if this has already been posted about somewhere, but I can't be bothered to sift through the numerous leak threads from various places on the vehicle...

Not content with having the sunroof leak fixed (so far, so good) in late December, my Patriot has sprung another leak to spite me, this time on the rear hatch liftgate. A week or so ago when I opened the rear hatch, I noticed there was some water on the edge of the liftgate, and there was also some water pooled up in the hatch area, where that corner would lower down into. I found that kind of odd, especially since the water also ran down into the spare tire area and pooled up around there.

Since I didn't order the "leak from every orifice" option with my Patriot, I decided I'd check that spot again after the next time it rains or snows. So it snowed last night and into the morning, and I opened up the liftgate, and sure enough, there's the water again.

This is the water on the liftgate itself:

Notice the gap where the water leaks out of:

This shows where the water gathers in the actual hatch itself (with spare tire cover open):

You can even faintly see water stains on the other side of the liftgate where I guess it leaked at some point too:

I realize this isn't on the same level of severity as having your front or rear lights fill up with water (I would know, I had all of that water from the front reading light spilled all over my pants on a frosty December's day), but nevertheless, it's still another trip that I'll have to make to the dealership to see what can be done. It's pretty disturbing to read about all of the leaking issues that other owners on these forums have dealt with, only to later deal with them yourself. If these leaks keep developing on brand new vehicles, I can only imagine how much fun I'll have in the years to come. :doh:

UPKEV · Mar 28, 2008

I feel for you. You have had your share of problems. I am just hoping they are all 07 issues, but mine hasn't been in the rain yet, but has had two high pressure touchless car washed and nothing yet.

mpm · Mar 28, 2008

Wheezy, do you use your lift gate often?? I only ask because I have noticed that if you shut the liftgate by either the left or right corner then the side that was not pressed is always sticking out a bit. So now I always slam it down from the center of the lift gate. I have not had any leaking issues, but i have always noticed the liftgate popped out on one side if it was incorrectly shut. Just a thought.

Wheezy · Mar 28, 2008

mpm said:
Wheezy, do you use your lift gate often?? I only ask because I have noticed that if you shut the liftgate by either the left or right corner then the side that was not pressed is always sticking out a bit. So now I always slam it down from the center of the lift gate. I have not had any leaking issues, but i have always noticed the liftgate popped out on one side if it was incorrectly shut. Just a thought.

Nope, I don't really use it that often. It's definitely closed all the way though, when I slam it shut. It kinda looks like there's some sort of leak from the glass area of the hatch, guess I'll have to take it in next week.

Wheezy · Mar 31, 2008

I washed it over the weekend, no leaks. I went out this morning since its been raining for a few hours, and lo and behold, there's the leak in action. I can actually squeeze the two pieces of plastic together on the hatch to see the water move around between the two pieces. I'll try and post here again after I take it to the dealership this week... wonderful.

Keeping Fingers Crossed · Mar 31, 2008

Sickening!!!!

neilcrichton · Mar 31, 2008

Wheezy:

There was a post by a forum member who resolved this. He found that the water entered where the wiper fluid hose enters the body at the top of the hatch. The grommet doesn't seal properly. He sealed it with silicone caulk, and the leak ended. Try it, or give the info to your service people. Everyone should caulk that grommet to avoid the problem in the future.

Also, I've seen a PDF file called "Jeep Patriot Leak Detection", which I can't locate now. Maybe another forum member can find a link for you. It's a Chrysler doc., and if your dealer isn't aware of it, you could show it to them.

Good luck.

tumprgt · Mar 31, 2008

Here is a link to Homac's page
http://www.planet.eon.net/~homac/Jeep Patriot Leak Detection.pdf

Wheezy · Mar 31, 2008

Thanks to both of you, but it really doesn't look like the water could enter through a cracked seal there, because it looks perfectly fine. I'm really not sure where the water was entering from, all I know is that today it was on both sides, with water still sitting in between the two plastic panels even after it stopped raining now.

I guess I'll just see what the dealer can make of this, I'll probably print out that leak guide too in case they haven't seen it for some reason.

Wheezy · Apr 4, 2008

Well I've got an appointment tomorrow morning for 9:30, and shortly after making that appointment, I decided to take out my spare tire for the first time, for whatever reason. I'm guessing this is probably related to the rear hatch leak, but everything beneath the spare tire was pretty damn wet.

This is the insulation/padding/foam beneath the tire (note the wet spots and the chewed gum stuck to it... classy!):

Here's two pictures of the water beneath where the tire sits (it began to evaporate a little bit, at least):

Since it's the first time I've ever taken out the spare tire, I guess the water down there could have come from this leak as well, even if it just trickled down there every time it rained and snowed... Guess I'll find out tomorrow. If it's a separate leak that's isolated from the rear hatch... Then needless to say, I'll be quite pissed.

mpm · Apr 4, 2008

Wheezy said:
This is the insulation/padding/foam beneath the tire (note the wet spots and the chewed gum stuck to it... classy!):

Reminds me of when I brought my GM Truck home brand new and found many "extra" parts in it. Well at least I hope they were extra.... That's quality in America I guess. Too bad Wheezy, I hope they fix it up for you!!

Wheezy · Apr 14, 2008

Just thought I'd post a bit of an update. I took it in April 3rd, but they had to call in the leak specialist so I drove it home and dropped it off on Friday morning (April 4th). I was called to come and pick it up around noon, and they apparently misunderstood where the leak was (even though I showed the service assistant when we went out to look at the Patriot), and they told my dad and I that it was simply a design flaw. So after spending a good 30 minutes explaining why "that isn't the 'leak' you're supposed to be looking at", they told us to monitor the situation over the weekend (because they thought the water that trickled down the hatch door and into the spare tire area was because I open the hatch too often after it rains/snows...).

So on Saturday afternoon (5th), we opened the hatch to check for the "leak" (it was raining the day before when I took it in), and not surprisingly, there's water trickling down the liftgate, onto the rear cargo floor, and down into the spare tire bay. I then made another appointment to take it in last Wednesday (9th), so they could look at the leak and re-install a plastic panel on the rear pillar that they somehow mangled when fixing my previous sunroof leak (they also screwed up the re-installation of my headliner during the sunroof leak fix, as well...). I was told they'd need it overnight, and they gave me a Dodge Caliber as a rental. I won't even get into the many dislikes I had regarding that vehicle, but I ended up keeping that until Friday (11th) at dinner. I then got my Patriot back, leak fixed, paperwork in the mail (because they were busy).

It rained overnight, so I headed out to check the hatch area on Saturday. (Not) Surprisingly, the "fix" did nothing. I had water trickling down the liftgate, on to the rear cargo floor, and down into the spare tire bay. So tomorrow I'll be calling the dealership again, to book an appointment to take the Patriot in, again, to let them fix the leak, again. This is honestly getting pretty bloody irritating. If a brand new Patriot has this many issues, I can't wait for what's in store for me next year, or the year after, or the year after that...

smilt237 · Apr 14, 2008

Maybe try a different dealer?

jack.allwardt · Apr 14, 2008

A dealer should NEVER admit a product "has a design flaw"!! He instead should gather info and call the tech specialist and have them check it out more thouroughly and immediately!

I've been in manufaturing and service my whole adult life and I'd never state a design flaw--even if I knew it to be true--to a customer. But we did fix each and every one with engineering changes and offered a discount on spare parts as a "make it better" gift.

Any dealer that can't stand behind his product should get out of the business. I'd even report this guy to Chrysler/Jeep!

But, then, that's just my $.02 worth!

Wheezy · Apr 15, 2008

jack.allwardt said:
A dealer should NEVER admit a product "has a design flaw"!! He instead should gather info and call the tech specialist and have them check it out more thouroughly and immediately!

I've been in manufaturing and service my whole adult life and I'd never state a design flaw--even if I knew it to be true--to a customer. But we did fix each and every one with engineering changes and offered a discount on spare parts as a "make it better" gift.

Any dealer that can't stand behind his product should get out of the business. I'd even report this guy to Chrysler/Jeep!

But, then, that's just my $.02 worth!

Yeah, it was an odd thing to say for sure, but they also misunderstood where the leak was "coming from" (they thought I was complaining about water draining around/above the hatch when you open the liftgate... apparently that's a design flaw

).

But anyhow, it's going in Thursday morning to have the rear window replaced, as well as the rear plastic trim around the window that they mutilated and snapped in half... What, they didn't think I'd notice that they snapped the plastic trim in half?

Hopefully replacing the glass/re-sealing it will fix the leak.

kenosha · Apr 16, 2008

has there been a consistant color of the water leakage? My wife's Patriot "leak" had a soap color to it and i was wondering if that is sediment washed down from the back gate or if she spilled something.

Wheezy · May 9, 2008

So, here's a final update on my situation. On the weekend of April 26/27, it rained quite a bit, and the leak was even worse than when I brought it in the first time to fix it. I went in on Monday (April 28th) and talked to the Service Manager, and basically let him know that I was fed up with the lousy service I had received there (workers cracking plastic parts and creating gaps in pieces along the headliner, taking home a dirtier Jeep than when I brought it in), each of the 3 times I had been there for this leak alone. So he agreed that the service I received was unacceptable, and I took in the Jeep the next day, where he would watch over the service himself, and they would also detail the whole thing for free.

So I took it in that Tuesday (29th), they gave me a Dodge Avenger as a rental (much better than the Caliber... I thought the MyGig system was pretty sweet), and I ended up getting the Patriot back last Friday (May 2nd). Basically, the bodyshop at the dealership was supposed to remove my rear window and re-seal it, which would stop the leak (this was supposed to occur after my last posting, around April 14th). Shortly after taking it home, I realized that they completely half-assed it; they didn't even bother taking out the window at all, they simply took their caulking gun and put a few beads around the window (not even surrounding the entire window... only a few spots!). So when I took it in last week, they paid a different bodyshop out of their own pocket to re-install and seal the window. It rained the day after I picked it up again... no leaks.

So, my leak problem is finally solved. I still have to return to the dealership when they get in the plastic parts that they either cracked or scratched to hell, on the rear hatch liftgate. This experience in particular has still left a more or less bad taste in my mouth, and the service I've received so far (as well as quality of the vehicle itself) hasn't really sat too well with me... After all, the Patriot is my first ever vehicle. That being said, if you have to put up with a dealership like mine with quite unsatisfactory workmanship, make sure you bring every single little problem to their attention -- because after all, it's their ass on the line when it comes down to you staying with them (and the manufacturer) for the years to come.

All I can say is that if this thing leaks again... I'll probably be saying goodbye to Chrysler LLC.

PA PATRIOT · May 9, 2008

Wheezy said:
So, here's a final update on my situation. On the weekend of April 26/27, it rained quite a bit, and the leak was even worse than when I brought it in the first time to fix it. I went in on Monday (April 28th) and talked to the Service Manager, and basically let him know that I was fed up with the lousy service I had received there (workers cracking plastic parts and creating gaps in pieces along the headliner, taking home a dirtier Jeep than when I brought it in), each of the 3 times I had been there for this leak alone. So he agreed that the service I received was unacceptable, and I took in the Jeep the next day, where he would watch over the service himself, and they would also detail the whole thing for free.

So I took it in that Tuesday (29th), they gave me a Dodge Avenger as a rental (much better than the Caliber... I thought the MyGig system was pretty sweet), and I ended up getting the Patriot back last Friday (May 2nd). Basically, the bodyshop at the dealership was supposed to remove my rear window and re-seal it, which would stop the leak (this was supposed to occur after my last posting, around April 14th). Shortly after taking it home, I realized that they completely half-assed it; they didn't even bother taking out the window at all, they simply took their caulking gun and put a few beads around the window (not even surrounding the entire window... only a few spots!). So when I took it in last week, they paid a different bodyshop out of their own pocket to re-install and seal the window. It rained the day after I picked it up again... no leaks.

So, my leak problem is finally solved. I still have to return to the dealership when they get in the plastic parts that they either cracked or scratched to hell, on the rear hatch liftgate. This experience in particular has still left a more or less bad taste in my mouth, and the service I've received so far (as well as quality of the vehicle itself) hasn't really sat too well with me... After all, the Patriot is my first ever vehicle. That being said, if you have to put up with a dealership like mine with quite unsatisfactory workmanship, make sure you bring every single little problem to their attention -- because after all, it's their ass on the line when it comes down to you staying with them (and the manufacturer) for the years to come.

All I can say is that if this thing leaks again... I'll probably be saying goodbye to Chrysler LLC.

i really hope they fixed it this time for you. water leaks are a pita!! and no place for a new vehicle.
i had a tracker that leaked day one.
my 05 rubicon leaked. that was fixed.
so far, i have been checking the pat after rain and washes. paraniod. so far, no leaks.
nothing ruin's a new car buying experience, like problem's right off the bat. yes, your dealer sounds below par! i would look for another for your future service needs.

demolaysgirl · Dec 15, 2009

The Leak returns - Spare Tire Well

I appear to be haunted by this leak as well.

We have had rain all weekend. I went into the back of my Jeep today to pull out some reusable shopping bags that I keep on top of the spare tire and noticed that my wheel well was soaked.

So I'm off to the dealership tomorrow for a fix.

The good news is that my headliner around my dome light is dry as a bone.

Thanks to this thread, I knew to look around the inside of my rear hatch window...and sure enough I see dirty water trails running down the interior of my hatch - on both the plastic and the metal. (Thank goodness I don't really wash my Jeep! Without the dirt, I wouldn't have been able to find the trail!)

I'm at 24,500 miles. They've got until the warranty runs out to seal my ride up tight as a drum, or I will file lemon law paperwork. This is probably the seventh or eighth time I've taken my Patriot in for leaks...from the sunroof/front and middle dome lights/A pillars (fixed), the rear dome light/roof rack (fixed) and now this. I truly love my Jeep, but have to look at the bigger picture.

wpeck2 · Dec 15, 2009

The old joke was that if you weren't good enough to work for GM, you went to Ford and if you couldn't hack it at Ford you went to Chrysler. When you failed at Chrysler, you went to AMC. Well, AMC is gone (absorbed by Chrysler), so they have nowhere else to go. I don't condemn all Chrysler dealerships, but the majority of them are poor in service and attitude. I'll get heat for this, but I speak from experience, not hearsay. No wonder the foreign cars are everywhere in the USA.

Rear Hatch Liftgate Leak (with pictures)

Wheezy

UPKEV

mpm

Wheezy

Wheezy

Keeping Fingers Crossed

neilcrichton

tumprgt

Wheezy

Wheezy

mpm

Wheezy

smilt237

jack.allwardt

Wheezy

kenosha

Wheezy

PA PATRIOT

demolaysgirl

wpeck2

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