2008 toyota yaris 2 door hatchback water leak

[knobby bobby]

its been raining really hard today. I opened the hatch and noticed water toward the back of the shelf that covers the spare tire. I removed that shelf and spare tire and found some water on floor toward right side near shock absorber.

I checked the molding around the window and cleared any pine needles.
I bought the car used and found broken glass particles inside rear floor.
Bondo on right rear panel. The car was in Yonkers NY and it looked like someone
smashed the rear window at one time and had it replaced. You can see the car was defaced. The plastic rear winsheild wiper sprayer was slightly melted.

I didnt notice this damage when I bought the car.

Are these toyota yaris hatchbacks prone to leak like this ?
Any feedback will be appreciated.

[Rigaud]

Not that I know of and right now I think your issues are from a rear window replaced improperly and or an accident and repaired bad.

[CTScott]

The most prone area to leakage is at the rear tail lights. There is supposed to be a gasket between the light and the body and that may be torn or missing. Also, the body repair could have been done such that the gasket no longer makes contact with both surfaces.

[knobby bobby]

damn these are great replies. I am pulling stuff apart now. How do I get them tail lights out ? Weird part is both sides of floor behind seat (not in spare tire area) have water pooled in that little track there on the side. Both rear windows are oem and say toyota
but that does not mean they are the original ??

[knobby bobby]

If I get these tail lights out can I do a silicone gasket instead of paying $$toyota$$ a gazillion dollars for an oem gasket ?

[WeeYari]

Originally Posted by knobby bobby

Weird part is both sides of floor behind seat (not in spare tire area) have water pooled in that little track there on the side.

There are sheet metal seams in those areas that are sealed with some white tacky stuff. Make sure there are no seams that have broken open.

Also, I believe there are a couple of holes under the left and right edges of the rear seat. These are 'taped' over from the factory. Those could be compromised and allowing water in.

[knobby bobby]

I will have to remove the rear seats and check that out. Also check the metal seams.
I removed the lights and see the black gaskets at the back of the lights. Cleaned up some pine needles there. I am missing one nut for the lights so off to ace hardware tomorrow.

[El Kapitan]

i had the same type of leak. after reading on this forum that it could be the tail lights, i removed, cleaned, and resealed them. it worked. no more leak.