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Water Leak Drivers Side Pillar

81K views 47 replies 28 participants last post by  capt.stock  
#1 ·
Have a question to see if anyone else has or had this issue. Here in CA, it's been a major drought, well last night it finally rain and when I got in my truck this morning I grab the pillar to get in and noticed it was wet. Water came out of the mounting holes. Just trying to figure out where the water came in. The head liner didn't appear to be wet. I pulled the pillar off and yes, it had plenty of water in there, but couldn't see where it came from. Truck has never been wreck or the windshield has never been replaced. Anyone else with this issue?
 
#7 · (Edited)
I had that happen on my 2013 Laramie with sunroof. There are water drain tubes that run right along side that pillar and down to the outside of the truck. Supposedly it's not just one solid tube running to the outside to drain the water from the sunroof. Mine came loose twice (fixed under warranty). They had to reconnect the drain tubes near that pillar. But since your truck does not have a sunroof, I'm not really sure if drain tubes would be in that area.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Well I found another leak this weekend This could be the source of your water too. I ran my 15 ram thru a touch less car wash with high pressure water spray. After I noticed two small drops on inside of windshield and it felt damp along the inside headliner above them. The ram has no rubber seal across the top, It didn't leak from rain that I noticed but it shouldn't leak ever. Now I could take it back to the dealer and deal with all that but chose to do it myself like I did the leak at the third brake light. So after much research I went with the permatex flowable silicon windshield sealant, ( most parts stores carry it, 5.98 ) this stuff seems to do well, its clear and when applied to the gully ram leaves at the top of the windshield it settled into all the little rough areas to form what I hope is a good seal. Since the gully runs right down to above the pillars on each side that could be where your water is coming from too. I will follow up in a week or so after it has cured and I get back by the car wash. A + is you can't even tell it was done it blended right in.

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#35 ·
Well I found another leak this weekend This could be the source of your water too. I ran my 15 ram thru a touch less car wash with high pressure water spray. After I noticed two small drops on inside of windshield and it felt damp along the inside headliner above them. The ram has no rubber seal across the top, It didn't leak from rain that I noticed but it shouldn't leak ever. Now I could take it back to the dealer and deal with all that but chose to do it myself like I did the leak at the third brake light. So after much research I went with the permatex flowable silicon windshield sealant, ( most parts stores carry it, 5.98 ) this stuff seems to do well, its clear and when applied to the gully ram leaves at the top of the windshield it settled into all the little rough areas to form what I hope is a good seal. Since the gully runs right down to above the pillars on each side that could be where your water is coming from too. I will follow up in a week or so after it has cured and I get back by the car wash. A + is you can't even tell it was done it blended right in.

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Check rear window trim on either side
It rots and cracks underneath
The water takes the path of least resistance
Came out my passenger side pillar
 
#9 ·
Nose UP... Or Down ???

Greetings,
my '14 with sun roof has leaked "Nose Up" in my driveway twice. Destroyed the leather back seat covers.

The dealer seems to think it is the 3rd brake light, and has been really nice about the issue. I'm guessing it is a BIG issue... for about the last few years.

But if it happens twice more... then they can replace it via the lemon law.

Other than that... I love my truck. It rocks!
 
#10 ·
RodRam, thanks for that idea, I sealed 3rd brake light, shark fan. The funny thing is my truck when parked and the leak happened, the truck was at a very slight lean to the right, it was hard for me to believe it was one of those 2. The windshield that you're talking about makes sense. I will do that as well.
 
#11 ·
Well, I found the windshield permatex sealer and laid a bead along the top of the windshield. That filled the gap between the windshield and frame for sure. I don't see water leaking from there if it ever was. Why do they have such a gap on these windshield there on these trucks? Why not just seal them completely to start with?
 
#12 ·
I had a factory default in my truck where they left a gap in the weld join inside my front driver side fender. Every time it would rain I would notice that there would be a wet spot on the carpet on the driver side. I took it to the dealership multiple times before they finally found the issue. Water also go into my dash because of this issue and the dealership had to replace a power control module in my dash. I was unable to unlock all my doors, just my driver side door would unlock. Once the module was replaced and the weld gap was sealed everything worked fine.
 
#13 ·
Same leak here. I've been to dealer 3 times. They've replaced driver side door seals, ensured sunroof drains not clogged, disconnected or pinched and adjusted sunroof to ensure tight fit. Still leaks from driver's side pillar. They have duplicated leak... Dealer says there is an issue with my sunroof drains...water draining from sunroof needs to drain from all 4 drains, if not, the water overflows and leaks into cab via top pillar bolt access hole. In other words, unless my truck is level all the time, there is no fix. Very upset. Such a nice truck. I hate to think of mold growing inside the cab interior due to leak. What steps should I take now?
 
#14 ·
I'm sorry to hear about this. Please feel free to shoot us a PM with your VIN so we can look into this a bit further.

Kori
Ram Social Care Specialist
 
#17 ·
I have a 2012 Laramie. I purchased new in S.C. and got stationed in Arizona. My headliner came loose from the heat. They removed my windshield to install the new headliner. I moved to SO CAL then to VA, where it rains almost weekly, it’s now leaking again! I think the windshield needs pulled and the seal redone. Word of caution, most windshield replacements don’t necessarily replace the seal, tell them to do so. I’m filing a claim with my insurance, I luckily just had a rock chip it.


I also had the break light leak, I pulled it out and RTV'd around it to make a seal. The MFGR seal was just a cheap foam piece... I love my truck and as you know, their pricey, I just wish they would pay more attention to the details. Back in the day, their paint sucked but the powertrain has always been solid, now it’s the seal/trim? Aesthetics quality that is lacking. I hope the new ones are better. Im getting ready to by a 2020 Limited. However, I’m leaning towards stepping away from RAM. After 6 Dodge/RAM trucks it’s a bit hard. It is just disheartening to spend 50K + on a truck and have these issues. The other item you need to look at on 2010-2012 is the air conditioner coil, there have been numerous reports of them leaking, and cracks identified near the welds. Not to mention the infamous Hemi Knock that starts at about 30K from cheap lifters..

Best of luck to you all.
 
#18 ·
My 2015 is at the dealer right now having this take care of. Water leaking from drivers side pillar grab handle. Originally focused on 3rd break light and front window seal. They ended up finding a TSB on the roof seam strip tested that and found that to be the issue. water would get into that channel and work its way down and out the grab handle screw hole. Parts had been on back order for about 4 weeks, they are in now. Dealer is removing, resealing and installing new roof strips. They had to keep it overnight for the sealant "to cure", crappy jeep compass loaner for me. But hopefully leak free this winter.
 
#19 ·
I have taken my 2015 Ram longhorn about 3 times and they never found the leak problems on the side pillars. Truck has never been in an accident but yet there is a leak every time it rains. I called the local dealer and they were no help they stated "they do not offer lifetime warranty on the fix" even though the real issue was never solved, you would think that their "fix" would last more than 3 years. Anyways I called Rams 1800 number and they pretty much said the same thing. This isn't my first ram But it might be my last with having no help we get rain every other day here in Houston. There is no sunroof so if anyone can help me out here would greatly appreciate it.
 
#20 ·
My leak was the roof seam they replaced and resealed the seam strips on the roof and so far so good. We are in fire season here in the North Bay so no rain yet but I have soaked the area good over several washings and no issues
 
#27 ·
I just seen this being an older thread. I had same issue brand new dealer said 3rd brake light and tightened it but still leaked. It ended up being the sat antenna was loose. When I parked on my driveway slight incline noise up it would leak out rear seatbelts. When Bose down it would run along top and leak somehow on driver side floor mat. I'm still getting a leak nose down but I'm trying to catch a good heavy rain to sit in truck and take things apart to find it. We've only had one heavy storm so far but at like 3 am while in bed so ya I was way too tired to get up than lol. I'm thinking weather strip (rap joint) on roof or door one is the culprit. I'm leaving on door weather strip as I haven't felt any water under dash and headliner isn't water damaged. Besides these door weather strips suck with the metal bra dining in them to hold there shape. They constantly cause rust and will be the cause of our trucks rusting out in these areas. It did it to my 2012 ram as I was getting rust bubbles under paint where door weather strips join under scuff plate. Dealer stated it was probably a rock or something from my shoe that caused it???? Under the scuff plate lmao. On my way to dealer again 45 min away each way and gas to show them they broke my trim panel around wife's jeep from the airbag recall they just did the other day. I'm sure they will put the blame on us for that also. Oh and windows don't work and key fobs no longer work both of them even with new batteries. Have to do it manually which also means no remote start. My fault again I bet.
 
#29 ·
Just following up on my leak. We had pretty much been in a drought since the last fix, which seemed to work for what little rain we did have. We where out of town over the weekend when the "atmospheric river" hit and dumped recorde amount of in in our area for about 30 hours. Got home late last night went to get ino the truck this morning. Carpet sloshed when I got in the truck. Soaked, tracked it all the way back about an inch of water in the rear underseat storage. My driveway is on an incline and I back in so nose down and it leans driver. The issue only appears to be on the driver side of the truck. my carpet is soaked front to back, I also have water coming from the oh shit handle on drivers side (the original leak area, the dealer thought they fixed with new roof strips). I pulled my third break light and there is dust inside, I don't think this is an issue. What about satalite radio antenea? that is the only place on the roof high enough to get to the front, but I'm not sure if it would leak down the back on the angle. There is so much water inside the cab! waiting for the dealer to call back right now.
 
#30 ·
I just noticed a similar issue in my 2011, a water leak at the driver's side A-pillar 'oh shit' handle. I thought it might be a clogged sunroof drain, so I blew some air through it, but I could feel the air at the other end. I checked the roof seam seal and it looks like the sealant is completely gone from the very front above the driver's side door, right where the seal meets the windshield. I don't know if this is the issue or not, I've called around to all the Ram dealers nearby and they are booked out to the mid- to end of November.
 
#36 ·
It’s the little trim , mounding pieces on either side of the rear window
Lifted it up , saw rot , picked up the gasket around the top of the rear doors and yes sir , a little rot , cracks , it rode the path of least resistance and came out the passenger side grab handle
Figured it out AFTER having replaced the Windshield
Best of luck
 
#40 ·
Hopefully someone can help me. My 2015 2500 Ram had a large tree branch fall on the lower part of the driver side a pillar, through the windshield, debris everywhere. The branch was about 16” in diameter. I had all repairs done at reputable shop. After getting it back, I had water coming out of the driver a pillar (the same side as the impact) and water down the front inside of windshield directly in front of driver head. I have had more than 5 water tests done. Third brake light, cab lights, sunroof were all good and all drains clear. For five years now, I’ve been trying to have this resolved. I also get ice jams in the driver door and mirror. The most recent collision center said all measurements are good on unibody and frame. Anyone have any ideas because I’m exhausted from the issue all together. My electronics have been affected as a result of all of this. Insurance company keeps saying it is a Ram issue. Well, it didn’t have any of these issues until the incident happened. Thoughts?
 
#41 ·
I had the exact same problem. I also thought it was the break light so I ordered a new gasket from amazon. in fact it has rained a lot in the last few days and I started to have water in the ram again. Water was leaking from the grab handle and sunvisor driver's side. In fact it was the small hole to the left of the sunroof that was clogged. I took a cotton swab to unclog the hole and vacuumed it. Now the water flows into the drain and comes out well outside the truck. Above all, do not use an air compressor or a Karscher as this risks detaching the drainage pipe from the nozzle. In this case you will have to dismantle everything to repair!