[Eyedeefour]

So in the past I’ve had vehicles leak water in the floorboard. This is usually from sunroof drains getting clogged or overwhelmed. However this has been the worst version of this.

My car was sitting for about 3 days in heavy rain. It has been very warm with lots of thunderstorms lately.

I opened the door and was greeted with a terrible mildew stench. I checked the carpets in the front driver and passenger and had a good quarter inch of water and light mold under the floor mats.

I cleaned this with airing out the car, towels, and running the heater. My car was parked nose down on a 20 degree driveway. All I can say is you’ve been warned! Attached is the grey nasty mold that was developing.

 

[Huey52]

Since we have a fixed pano roof there are no roof-channel drains common with a moveable, so this is indeed peculiar.
Keep us informed and hopefully your service department resolves to your satisfaction.
And as we always say start a case with VW Customer Care: (800) 822-8987

 

[Munchi8]

So in the past I’ve had vehicles leak water in the floorboard. This is usually from sunroof drains getting clogged or overwhelmed. However this has been the worst version of this.

My car was sitting for about 3 days in heavy rain. It has been very warm with lots of thunderstorms lately.

I opened the door and was greeted with a terrible mildew stench. I checked the carpets in the front driver and passenger and had a good quarter inch of water and light mold under the floor mats.

I cleaned this with airing out the car, towels, and running the heater. My car was parked nose down on a 20 degree driveway. All I can say is you’ve been warned! Attached is the grey nasty mold that was developing.

View attachment 5098

The water leak issue might be related to the car A/C system. A similar issue has been reported on another forum.

ID4 Massive Waterleak?

I have an ID4 First Edition which I obtained as a demonstrator in late June (build date April 2021). I first noticed very wet carpet in the driver's foot-well late last week when I removed the protective mats to clean them. Tried to dry carpets out but wetness kept coming back. Also kept...

www.speakev.com

 

[Eyedeefour]

My R32 had a compressor leak as well. I suspect this could also be it, but I can’t really dismiss a week of very heavy downpour rain. The car is due for the 60 day service and the recall, calling Monday.

 

[Eyedeefour]

More water in the car today, no rain. Called Lindsay VW in northern Virginia, they said I had to wait 8 days for service. I’m driving it over today I’m not waiting 8 days for this to fester and ruin the interior.

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

More water in the car today, no rain. Called Lindsay VW in northern Virginia, they said I had to wait 8 days for service. I’m driving it over today I’m not waiting 8 days for this to fester and ruin the interior.

Turn A/C on 60°F ....medium speed blower.....taking outside air ( no recirculation)....leave it running for 3-40 minutes and have someone look under the ID4 for condensation hose dripping water....if there is no dripping or missing water drain hose. It will be your suspect for water entering.
VW has rigorous types of torture room where they expose new car design to all types of water scenarios and while testing they will look and find issues to improve sealing....
This is probably assembly issue related.
Let me know what you find

 

[Huey52]

That would point to the A/C condenser and poor/blocked drainage. Fortunately post-repair of the leak they can pull up the carpet, clean of mold/mildew and thoroughly dry with a blower.
Good decision and action as less time in this state is best.

More water in the car today, no rain. Called Lindsay VW in northern Virginia, they said I had to wait 8 days for service. I’m driving it over today I’m not waiting 8 days for this to fester and ruin the interior.

 

[Huey52]

... and yet despite the factory "monsoon test" my ordered Audi A5 had a similar wet interior day one!

VW has rigorous types of torture room where they expose new car design to all types of water scenarios and while testing they will look and find issues to improve sealing....
This is probably assembly issue related.
...

 

[Eyedeefour]

I just dropped it. I showed it to them and they agreed it was bad. Even if it sits in a climate controlled garage it’s better than it baking in the sun at my house, I don’t have covered parking. It would only accelerate it.

 

[JimmyVW]

My previous car had a pinched drainage line during assembly, so it filled up and overflowed into the cabin. They simple gave it a tug at the dealership and a few liters of water came out. Might be just as simple

 

[hilld]

That would point to the A/C condenser and poor/blocked drainage. Fortunately post-repair of the leak they can pull up the carpet, clean of mold/mildew and thoroughly dry with a blower.
Good decision and action as less time in this state is best.

You mean A/C evaporator I assume.

Also, on previous VW/Audi models there is a possibility of water entering where the fan sucks in the fresh outside air. There are drains around this opening and often clogged by leaves, needles and other debris. You would think after 30+ years of these issues, they would have figured it out.

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

That would point to the A/C condenser and poor/blocked drainage. Fortunately post-repair of the leak they can pull up the carpet, clean of mold/mildew and thoroughly dry with a blower.
Good decision and action as less time in this state is best.

They will instruct them to use smoke machine with positive pressure and test it...it will show other possible places if A/C is not the issue....
All carpet and all insulation will be replaced....this is going to be long job....

 

[Huey52]

Interesting. They didn't replace my Audi carpet, but then I was back to the dealer the very next day so no mold/mildew.

Yes, that smoke machine will certainly find the problem if it's a leak. I guess it will also show if it's a blockage by blowback.

They will instruct them to use smoke machine with positive pressure and test it...it will show other possible places if A/C is not the issue....
All carpet and all insulation will be replaced....this is going to be long job....

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

Interesting. They didn't replace my Audi carpet, but then I was back to the dealer the very next day so no mold/mildew.

Yes, that smoke machine will certainly find the problem if it's a leak. I guess it will also show if it's a blockage by blowback.

If there is bad smell...everything will have to go out....it all depends on what they will find out once they remove front seats....and if they have to remove rear seats.....90% chance it will be new carpet with all new insulation and everything else in question that water has damaged.This is assembly issue....new employee without enough experience .

 

[hilld]

They will instruct them to use smoke machine with positive pressure and test it...it will show other possible places if A/C is not the issue....
All carpet and all insulation will be replaced....this is going to be long job....

Now the car will smell like smoke.... 🚬 ....hmm...

hopefully they are using Menthol. 😷

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

Here Is brake down picture
#7 and #24 are possible suspects

 

[Eyedeefour]

An update - I still don’t have my car.

I was dealing with a service rep that strung me along for weeks. After 20 days I contacted the service manager who informed me that the rep had lied about the timelines of repairs. They did fix the leak which was an evap pressure line in the firewall.

Yesterday I went to check on the car after they “cleaned” the carpet. It still stank with mildew. I stated I wanted the carpet replaced - and of course there is no carpet due to parts shortage. They did order the padding under the carpet and that is supposed to arrive next week.

For the run around they paid one month of my car payment, roughly $600 (although I haven’t actually received a check, it is allegedly forthcoming).

I did not contact customer care yet, but I believe I will do that today as I’m concerned that this may not even be resolved with the padding. I have a 3 month old car with 2500 miles and it smells like it has been in a flood.

 

[Eyedeefour]

Today I was told the parts are still not available. I have initiated the buy back process. A shame really. Buyer beware.

 

[Eyedeefour]

Update - 2 weeks into buyback process. No real transparency there. Car down 53 days and counting. Carpet may arrive this week.

I’m going to wait to see VW’s response. If it’s not satisfactory I think I’m going to pull out the lemons.

Considering Audi Q4 etron. Just an ID4 that might be assembled correctly instead of what I bought.

 

[JPWhite]

Sorry to hear of your continued troubles. You are right to insist on new carpet there is no process to remove mold from porous materials, it will always stink when damp.

Hope you get wheels soon.