HI,

My son has a 2009 5 door fiesta, just discovered the rear footwell's are absolutely soaking wet, I have stripped a few things back and check over seals etc but no obvious sign of where this amount of water has come from, I think it may have accumulated over time or been happening for some time as I often wondered why there was slight corrosion on the front seat mounts. 

It may seem odd that we have only seen this now but when the rubber matts are down you really couldn't tell. We really are beginning to dislike this car as it has been one thing after another. Also been onto ford's £1 a min helpline which was no help at all.

Thinking we would need to completely strip out and dry the carpet but seems pointless unless we can stop/find where its coming from.

Anyone seen this or have any ideas please, really at wits end.

Thank you

Scott

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/107362-water-leaking-into-spare-wheel-unit/

I can’t find the thread that discusses your problem (you might have more luck searching) but I recall it had to do with water leaking down the C pillars from the strips described in the thread attached above. 

Do you still own this car? I’ve had similar issues, I may be able to help?

I have exact same problem with 59 plate fiesta. Both rear foot Wells soaking and rear seat but no obvious sign of any leaks!

On 12/19/2019 at 3:11 PM, Courier 99 said:

Do you still own this car? I’ve had similar issues, I may be able to help?

 

Found problem!!! Under rear number are square vents either side that ford refuse to seal during manufacture. My boot under carpet was full water!!! Took out plugs released water . Ford well aware of this problem!!!

*bumper*

On 12/19/2019 at 3:11 PM, Courier 99 said:

Do you still own this car? I’ve had similar issues, I may be able to help?

hi , can you please help me with this  issues , i cant find where the water coming from , thank you .

Had taped holes behind rear bumper sealed but still water getting in from somewhere 

2 hours ago, Stran67 said:

Had taped holes behind rear bumper sealed but still water getting in from somewhere 

Thank you for letting us know. 🤔

I’ve got similar problem - drivers footwell, rear drivers side footwell & back seats all wet. No water in spare tyre well but the cover is soaked. 
had issue with water in spare tyre well last year but that was caused by the strips on roof & solved by sealing them.

any ideas ? 
it’s a 2010 5 dr fiesta 

I am having an issue with water in the rear passenger footwell. No obvious signs of leaks. Other parts the car are dry. Any help greatly appreciated 

No water in the spare wheel area?

13 hours ago, Corinna said:

I am having an issue with water in the rear passenger footwell. No obvious signs of leaks. Other parts the car are dry. Any help greatly appreciated 

Read the posts above

2 hours ago, orangecurry said:

No water in the spare wheel area?

No, all dry

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

Read the posts above

I did, thanks!

If there really is nothing in the boot (or the front footwell?), then I'm guessing your car is a 5-door, and the door seal/membrane behind the door-card is compromised.

On 1/15/2026 at 2:44 PM, orangecurry said:

If there really is nothing in the boot (or the front footwell?), then I'm guessing your car is a 5-door, and the door seal/membrane behind the door-card is compromised.

Yes 5dr. Only the middle part of the footwell is wet. The sides are dry. Basically the part you set your feet. Is this normal if it's related to the door? How does the water get in? Sorry for all the questions but appreciate the help.

On 1/15/2026 at 9:23 AM, orangecurry said:

No water in the spare wheel area?

 

Questions are never a bad thing.

Where you put your feet is the low-point, so any water ingress will make its way there.  If you are sure there's no water in the front, or in the boot, it is likely that it is getting in via a rear door.  Every car door that has an opening window needs a membrane, a sheet of flexible plastic, to keep the water out that will always drip down from where the glass meets the rubber strip that runs horizontally across each door.

What you need to do is find a guide on removing the inner parts of the door, and once the 'door card' is off, you will have access to this sheet of plastic.  If it is damaged, or detatched through age, you need to seal it up again.

Has anyone been messing with adding/changing any speakers for example?  I don't have a 5-door, so I've no idea what the doors contain?

 

Does the car have a sunroof?  It's possible that if that's leaking, the water MIGHT run down the pillar between the doors and end-up in the rear footwell.

Look for any signs of damp in the headlining.

22 hours ago, orangecurry said:

Questions are never a bad thing.

Where you put your feet is the low-point, so any water ingress will make its way there.  If you are sure there's no water in the front, or in the boot, it is likely that it is getting in via a rear door.  Every car door that has an opening window needs a membrane, a sheet of flexible plastic, to keep the water out that will always drip down from where the glass meets the rubber strip that runs horizontally across each door.

What you need to do is find a guide on removing the inner parts of the door, and once the 'door card' is off, you will have access to this sheet of plastic.  If it is damaged, or detatched through age, you need to seal it up again.

Has anyone been messing with adding/changing any speakers for example?  I don't have a 5-door, so I've no idea what the doors contain?

 

Does the car have a sunroof?  It's possible that if that's leaking, the water MIGHT run down the pillar between the doors and end-up in the rear footwell.

Look for any signs of damp in the headlining.

Thank you! You are so kind for spending the time to write this.  I will search for a guide. The car doesn't have a sunroof and no one has been  working at the door. Someone mentioned a bung underneath car and to check that,  which I will also do.

Absolutely you should look inside the door - as I say our Fiesta is a three-door, so I've not done this specific task - but I've taken plenty of car doors apart and it should be easy enough.

However I'm not convinced that's where your water is getting in 🙂

If the membrane looks undamaged, it is firmly attached all the way around and at every fixing point (you'll understand what I mean when you can see it), and there's no water/staining/signs at the bottom of the door-card (on it's inner side where any water would ingress), then leave the membrane alone - your leak is from somewhere else.