Ford expedition 2014 EL Limited - front seats water/mold fron mat water

[ionized]

Hello all,


I've recently noticed an issue with my car where the seats are getting wet, although I'm not sure where the water is coming from. I've also found water on the front floor mats, and there is visible mold developing on the seats.


Could anyone advise on what might be causing this?


Thank you.

 

[Fastcar]

Check for a plugged drain for the moon roof.

 

[ionized]

Is this a common issue? I assume I’ll need to open the moonroof and test the drains to confirm—correct?

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Is this a common issue? I assume I’ll need to open the moonroof and test the drains to confirm—correct?

There are four drains for the sunroof - one in each corner of the sunroof tray.

You can test each drain by parking the vehicle downhill, then uphill - and slowly pour a little water into the corners pointed down. See if the drains empty.

If one or more do not, you can try to clear them by using lawn grass string trimmer line. If water remains in the trough due to a clogged drain, you can soak it up with towels.

Some people have experienced a drain hose becoming detached from the drain nipple (one or more), causing water to begin to drain from the trough, but then leak into the vehicle's interior.

 

[SAITAX]

I see this is an old thread, but I'm going to add to it as I just experienced this issue, and the information online, whether on youtube or using AI wasn't very accurate:

Fixing Rear Sunroof Drain Blockage (Ford Expedition)

1. Locate the drains:
   • There are four drains total.
   • The front drains are visible in the front corners of the sunroof drain pan.
   • The rear drains are not visible—they’re in the same relative position at the back.
2. Try clearing from above:
   • Open the sunroof.
   • Use a stiff wire or weed-wacker line.
   • Gently run it along the outter-inside edge of the drain pan toward the rear corner.
   • Wiggle until it slides into the drain hole, then move it around to clear any blockage.
3. If still clogged, drop the headliner:
   • Remove the C-pillar trim and hanger hooks to lower the headliner slightly.
   • You’ll see a black drain tube connected to a nipple on the sunroof pan.
   • Reach in (space is tight—wedge something to keep it open) and twist the tube off.
   • The tube is just slipped on—no clamp.
4. Clear the blockage:
   • Blow compressed air through the tube until water flows freely.
   • You should see water draining near the front of the rear tires.
5. Note on design:
   • The drain outlet appears to direct water into or near the rocker panels, which can cause rust.
   • This likely explains corrosion issues, especially in wet climates like Vancouver.
6. Tip:
   • You cannot access the rear drain tube by removing the interior rear side panel—the tube runs through the pillar.

Cheers