[jblackburn]

The brake light is the most common; it should be a RECALL listed for the car. As is the battery tub drain. This usually ends up with water in the battery compartment; if you see it elsewhere in the trunk, it's probably not the brake light.

Some Gen 2's have also had water leaks at spoiler bolts, and some around the right taillight. The dealer should have a body guy in-house or someone they contract out to check the car for leaks.

 

[jblackburn]

Mold on the top trunk liner is coming from the seal that the trunk closes on.
I've had this same issue before.
As you can see in the pictures it was a rainy day when I noticed it.

Took a couple more today of it cleaned up and also where the water was pooling (between the plastic and the rubber seal)

View attachment 288517 View attachment 288518 View attachment 288519 View attachment 288520

If this is a RS trim with a spoiler on the trunk lid, that's also exactly where the tabs on the end of the spoiler leak down onto the taillights.

How-To: Fix Trunk Spoiler leaks on Gen 2 sedan

If you have a Gen 2 sedan and have a water leak in the trunk after rain, it's likely one of two things: 1. The third brake light - there's a recall for 2016/17's to replace the gasket. Sometimes after the gasket is replaced, the third brake light assembly itself will crack. This water usually...

www.cruzetalk.com

 

[jblackburn]

Oh man I missed one of the posts explaining this, My fault.
Yes this is the 2017 RS package.
Thank You mentioning that.
Is there an easy way of getting to the underside to check that?
Is it just pop the tabs on the trunk liner?

To see where it was coming from, I took the trunk liner off, wet down the trunk lid, and stuck a camera phone through one of the trusses in the inner trunk lid.

I saw it dripping off the taillight, so thought it was the taillight seal leaking, but once the camera phone was in there, it was clear as day that it was actually coming from that rivet, then running down the taillight.

 

[jblackburn]

Nice. Thank you I’ll look into this myself. Much appreciated for the correction btw lol

Good luck! Mine unfortunately happened out of warranty, so it took me a couple weeks to figure out where the heck it was leaking from. It was an easy DIY fix, though.

 

[jblackburn]

Is this how it looks like when you removed the spoiler? I have a 2017 LT with RS package and I have the same water leak issue. I have been to dealers more than 3 times and they replaced right taillight but it still leaks

Yep those tabs are right above each taillight. They will drip down directly on the taillight housing and make it appear the seal is leaking.

 

[jblackburn]

Thanks a lot! I tried to seal the spoiler around the outside, as I didn't want to go over the troubles of removing light housing. I'm not sure if that'll work lol

Super easy to remove, just a foam gasket that will reseal if you clean up around the light.

The tabs themselves need a blob of silicone applied around to stop the dripping. Mine sits on an incline with the trunk facing down in the driveway, so water just pools behind the lip of the spoiler when it rains.

 

[jblackburn]

Thanks! Would you mind telling me what tools I need? I'm in another state and about to head out to buy tools first. I got silicone seals in my car, and just wondering what kind of screwdrivers I need

How-To: Fix Trunk Spoiler leaks on Gen 2 sedan

If you have a Gen 2 sedan and have a water leak in the trunk after rain, it's likely one of two things: 1. The third brake light - there's a recall for 2016/17's to replace the gasket. Sometimes after the gasket is replaced, the third brake light assembly itself will crack. This water usually...

www.cruzetalk.com

A 10mm, an extension, a swivel joint, and a trim puller tool for the rivets on the trunk got me to all of them.

 

[jblackburn]

This is super helpful. Thanks!
Just curious, if it's caused by the leaky spoiler, the water doesn't go to battery compartment and thus wouldn't damage the battery / electronic units, right?

Generally, spoiler = spare tire area, 3rd brake light = battery compartment.