My 2023 Toyota Camry Has a Serious Leak and Mold Growing In the Trunk, Now the Dealer Says There Is Nothing They Can Do About It

"I have standing water in my 2023 Toyota Camry's trunk, and mold is growing. This can't be normal. Toyota, this shouldn't be happening to my car." 

That's what Karli Slaten (@karli.slaten) says in her TikTok video, and she wants to know why there is water in her Camry's trunk. She is not the only newer Camry owner who has this issue. 

First, imagine opening your trunk to put groceries in after shopping and seeing beads of water around the top of the spare tire, standing water in the bottom, and mold growing in your trunk. You don't want to put the fresh produce you bought in the trunk with mold, as it could be a health issue. 

Now, on the way home, you can even smell the damp odor; all you can think of is mold entering the car's interior. You don't even want to drive the vehicle. 

Let's pick up Karli's story. 

She says, "Can anyone tell me why my 2023 Toyota Camry, which is basically a new car, is leaking like this? I have a serious leak in my trunk." Karli takes her cell phone, opens her Camry trunk, and records her trunk showing water spots along the entire edge around the spare tire. "As you can see, there's water, and even mold is growing."

Then she pans the camera to show standing water at the bottom of the spare tire well. "There's standing water," she says. 

As she closes the trunk, she expresses her frustration, "I tried to reach out to the Toyota dealership, but the receptionist informed me that the service department was unavailable. She assured me of a callback, but the service department never got back to me."

The Toyota dealer doesn't return Karli's repeated phone calls.

"I made two more attempts to contact the dealership, but they continued to ignore my calls. This is simply unacceptable," she says, shaking her head in disbelief. 

The Toyota dealer's lack of response to Karli's repeated phone calls is not only frustrating but also disrespectful to her as a customer.

"So next, I went to the Toyota dealer and asked to talk to someone in the service department. So the service manager comes out to look at the problem. After checking my trunk, he told me they could do nothing about it. The service manager looked at my trunk and told me that."

"Toyota, this shouldn't be happening to my car, and you need to tell me why I have water and mold in the trunk of my car."

Does the Toyota Camry have a leaking trunk problem?

According to reports from newer Toyota Camry owners, yes. It's a common issue reported by many owners. This is often due to worn or damaged seals around the trunk lid or tail lights, allowing water to seep into the trunk. 

According to Reddit user pm_me_your_kindwords, "My Camry's trunk smelled musty, and when I investigated, I realized there was probably a gallon or more of water hanging out in the bottom of the trunk (around the spare tire and under the jack)."

"I cleaned it up and tried to figure out the cause. My best guess was that over time, parking on an incline, water (and eventually dirt) couldn't run off the way it was designed to, and had accumulated on/under/around the gasket meant to seal the trunk."

"So I cleaned the gasket (and everything else) well and figured it would be ok for years. But after more rain, there's more water."

Why won't the Toyota dealer fix the trunk leak problem?

Toyota does not have a recall for this issue, and it's likely Karli's 2023 Toyota Camry is out of warranty. She says that she purchased the car new in 2022, and if it was early in the model year, she has more than 36,000 miles on her Camry.

Only the Camry's engine, transmission/transaxle, front-wheel-drive system, rear-wheel drive, seatbelts, and airbags are covered under the 60 months/60,000 mile drivetrain warranty. 

The service manager should have told Karli they could fix the problem with a new trunk seal. However, she would have to pay for the repair, and Karli wanted the dealer to pay for it. 

Weatherstripping can be purchased from Toyota's parts department.

JustAnswer says, "Most likely you have a seal that's flattened out and not sealing well enough. If so, see your local Toyota dealer parts department to purchase a new seal. It's rather easy to replace." 

"Stay away from the aftermarket stuff and universal weatherstripping as it will likely make the problem worse. And last clean up all the water down in the spare tire well of the trunk to prevent any mildew from forming, leave the truck open on hot days to try to get it good and dried out inside. Nobody likes a stinky trunk!"

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Weatherstripping Damage: The rubber seals (weatherstripping) around the trunk lid can degrade over time, causing water to leak in. 
• Tail Light Seals: The seals around the tail lights can also deteriorate, allowing water to enter. 
• Drainage Problems: Blockages in the trunk's drainage channels can prevent water from properly exiting the trunk, leading to pooling and potential leaks. 
• Seam Issues: Seams in the trunk panel can sometimes split, allowing water to spray in. 
• Pressure Relief Vent: A pressure relief vent, often found near the tail lights, can also leak if not properly sealed. 

Conclusion

If you have a trunk leak in your Toyota Camry, like Karli, inspect the seals, tail lights, and drainage channels. You can also try pouring water on the back window with the trunk lid open to see where the water enters. 

You can buy the trunk seal at your local Toyota dealer and have them replace it, or you can do it yourself. A Reddit thread discusses using silicone sealant to reseal tail lights. A YouTube video demonstrates how to find and fix trunk water leaks in your car. 

Have You Had Water In Your Camry's Trunk?

If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know what you did to fix it.

Check out my Toyota Camry story: I Got a Free Oil Change on My Toyota Camry, But I Would Have Rather Paid $100, It Took Over 3 Hrs, I Will Never Get My Oil Changed at Toyota Again

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Karli Slaten