Cadillac ATS 2013 water leak

17481 Views 65 Replies 12 Participants Last post by schwinn, Oct 28, 2017

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2015

couple of days ago it rained all night where I live and in the morning when I got in my car (2013 ATS) I noticed that the floor is drenched with water. I checked everything was closed properly. Doors windows and sunroof were all closed all the way. I am unable to see where this water had came from but it seems to me from the sunroof. I am guessing sunroof is not draining properly or water are coming out of the drain and into my car. The water is only in the driver side floor. Any one else with an ATS had a similar problem? I would appreciate the input. I am worried that this is not covered under the warranty. I yet to call the dealer, but it is extremely frustrating to spend all this time at the dealer as I had taken this car multiple times already for 5 different recalls. Not sure what to do here.

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C "T" ess

· #41 · Dec 4, 2015

It seems the dealer thinks you are gullible and will believe anything they tell you. The dealer is not replacing the windshield themselves, it will probably be done by a vendor like safelight.. Check the lower right or left corner of the windshield. The factory trademark is on the passenger side. All OEM windshields will have the GM logo and if you have the optional Bose speaker system, it will say acoustic and that's the only windshield that has to be special ordered from GM.
If it's from a vendor it will be in either of the same two locations and will say "LOF" or "PPG". Since this is a 2013, I would doubt it's the car itself, unless you had an accident of some sort in the meantime. Even if they were to find a small dimple of some sort the mastic would take care of that. Look at the windshield as it currently sits on the car. You will see there is a gap between the glass and the car body. Knowing where the leak is coming from, take a strong flashlight and search that area and see if you can see if there is anything that could be causing the leak. Best of luck!

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duneless

· #42 · Dec 7, 2015

ATS4EVER said:
My car still leaks. What a shame! I'm sooo disappointed

Don't feel bad. My windshield was scratched from the inside like from a diamond when I purchased the car. They replaced the windshield and I could hear the wind coming in whistling down the road. They replaced and same thing again. They said faulty windshields. The third was the wrong windshield and I said I would wait while they installed. Then they came to tell me it was the wrong windshield. The next time the pros down the street from my house did the job. And the dealer brought the car to my house when it was finished. No problems after that. I've forgotten all the problems Iv'e had with this car. But I still love it.

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ATS4EVER said:
That's what they said. They need to remove the windshield again and pinpoint the problem and fix it. Mind you, this is the second windshield now. They replaced the original one few months ago for the same issue, but the dealer person told me that it could be that materials shrunk or something with pressure and time and caused it to leak again. The dealer ordered a new windshield and now I am waiting for it to come and will be taking the car over there again. They saw where the water is leaking. He said from the top windshield corner driver side. I feel it is not what the dealer told me it is. It is not because after placing the new windshield few months ago the sealer shrunk. I have a feeling that it is a defect in the car frame which does not fit properly with the windshield. This is the fourth attempt to fix this issue. If does not work, I am contacting a lemon law lawyer, or I don't know what else to do. Plus as you said, water has been going in the dashboard where all the electrical wires are. I am very concern that it will cause electrical problems in the future

After installing mine the car had to sit for a day. The first 2 times they just gave me the car and said see you later. The vendor that did the first 2 jobs said this has never happened to him. He wanted the car at their shop down the street from my house. The last they did was the trick. My car never leaked because it didn't rain. I could just hear it driving down the road. Have a good vendor do the job at their place. I can bet you it will stop. My windshield wouldn't seat on the drivers bottom left corner. I can bet that's where yours is leaking.

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ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #43 · Dec 7, 2015

C "T" ess said:
It seems the dealer thinks you are gullible and will believe anything they tell you. The dealer is not replacing the windshield themselves, it will probably be done by a vendor like safelight.. Check the lower right or left corner of the windshield. The factory trademark is on the passenger side. All OEM windshields will have the GM logo and if you have the optional Bose speaker system, it will say acoustic and that's the only windshield that has to be special ordered from GM.
If it's from a vendor it will be in either of the same two locations and will say "LOF" or "PPG". Since this is a 2013, I would doubt it's the car itself, unless you had an accident of some sort in the meantime. Even if they were to find a small dimple of some sort the mastic would take care of that. Look at the windshield as it currently sits on the car. You will see there is a gap between the glass and the car body. Knowing where the leak is coming from, take a strong flashlight and search that area and see if you can see if there is anything that could be causing the leak. Best of luck!

Thanks for the info. I will look out for this when they install the new windshield.

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #44 · Dec 23, 2015

OK, so I took the car again to the dealer for this issue and after two visits they determined that last time they installed the windshield, it did not seal correctly. They ordered a new windshield and replaced it and gave me the car back. It has been raining here in MD for the last couple of days and guess what? Yep, it is still leaking from the same spot. I mean how many times do I need to take this car to the dealer to fix a single issue. They have attempted 4 times now to fix it and it is not fixed. The problem seems to be not fixable. Maybe the car frame does not fit perfectly with the windshield and that leaves a space for water to leak. This is absolutely frustrating and taking so much energy and time from me. Now they are asking me to take it back to the dealer again.

Ragtop 99

· #45 · Dec 23, 2015

^^^ Its time to get GM involved.

Reactions: 1

duneless

· #46 · Dec 24, 2015

I had the same issue. It seems it's not that easy to install. The last time the installer did it at his shop like I was saying before and bang done right. But I was in the same boat and was upset. And including one was the wrong windshield. But the owner of the shop personally did my windshield and was done right. Get some other place to do the windshield and inform them of the problems you have had.

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ATS4EVER said:
OK, so I took the car again to the dealer for this issue and after two visits they determined that last time they installed the windshield, it did not seal correctly. They ordered a new windshield and replaced it and gave me the car back. It has been raining here in MD for the last couple of days and guess what? Yep, it is still leaking from the same spot. I mean how many times do I need to take this car to the dealer to fix a single issue. They have attempted 4 times now to fix it and it is not fixed. The problem seems to be not fixable. Maybe the car frame does not fit perfectly with the windshield and that leaves a space for water to leak. This is absolutely frustrating and taking so much energy and time from me. Now they are asking me to take it back to the dealer again.

Did they let the car sit after to cure? Kept all windows shut and doors closed so suction doesn't cause a leak? They did all this for my last one.

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #47 · Dec 28, 2015

GM is the one that keeps telling me to take it back to the dealer. I didn't expect these kind of problems from a luxury car that cost me more than 45K. What a hassel

Ragtop 99 said:
^^^ Its time to get GM involved.

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duneless said:
I had the same issue. It seems it's not that easy to install. The last time the installer did it at his shop like I was saying before and bang done right. But I was in the same boat and was upset. And including one was the wrong windshield. But the owner of the shop personally did my windshield and was done right. Get some other place to do the windshield and inform them of the problems you have had.

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Did they let the car sit after to cure? Kept all windows shut and doors closed so suction doesn't cause a leak? They did all this for my last one.

My car stayed at the dealer for two days before I take it back. They told me that it needs not to be driven for 24 hours, so I guess they did. Not sure if they left the windows and doors shut. What's confusing me that the leak keeps happening from same exact spot. if windshield was not installed correctly, shouldn't be leaking else where too?

duneless

· #48 · Jan 4, 2016

ATS4EVER said:
GM is the one that keeps telling me to take it back to the dealer. I didn't expect these kind of problems from a luxury car that cost me more than 45K. What a hassel

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My car stayed at the dealer for two days before I take it back. They told me that it needs not to be driven for 24 hours, so I guess they did. Not sure if they left the windows and doors shut. What's confusing me that the leak keeps happening from same exact spot. if windshield was not installed correctly, shouldn't be leaking else where too?

I know we have talked but mine 2 times have had the same leak in the bottom left of the windshield. Sitting in the drivers seat you could hear the wind whistling down the highway. Never rained in this period to see a leak. But it would have been pretty bad.

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #49 · Jan 16, 2016

So it seems the leak isn't from the windshield. They discovered some kind of pinholes in the roof frame that leads to the pillars and believe it is the cause of the water leak. They have sent my car to the body shop to try and close the pinholes. They will be scrapping the paint from that area, closing the pinholes and then repaint it. They are saying it is a manufacturing defect. I am SHOCKED!!!!

Ragtop 99

· #50 · Jan 16, 2016

That's a new one to me.

Reactions: 1

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #51 · Jan 18, 2016

Ragtop 99 said:
That's a new one to me.

to me as well. The thing is, how do I know that this defect is not somewhere else also in the frame. Maybe the whole frame has pinholes. Plus, how are they suppose to close these pinholes? That's tampering with my original car frame and that is scary to me. They will probably apply heat and it may weaken the frame. I don't know. Not feeling comfortable about this. I'm going tomorrow first thing in the morning to the dealer to discuss this in person with them.

Reactions: 2

C "T" ess

· #52 · Jan 18, 2016

Calm yourself. I've not heard of pinholes either but I suppose anything is possible. If that is what it is they will never apply enough heat to your car to do any damage. Remember a good portion of your car was welded together and yet it works fine. At worst, they will TIG weld the small holes. The TIG and MIG welding process applies high heat in short bursts. No problem there. I'll bet if there is a pin hole it is in the area of a factory seam. The biggest question is why did it take several years to start leaking?

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #53 · Jan 18, 2016

It has been leaking for the past couple of years. It took sometime for me to notice the leak. I discovered it after sometime, but i bet it was happening all along. Anyways, I got new information this morning from the dealer. To fix these pinholes they are not going to weld anything. They will apply a sealant to close them. I asked if the sealant will ever ware off and they said , yes it might, so I am confused to this solution. If it wares off then I am back dealing with this problem again.

I asked to speak to someone from GM/Cadillac. Today is a holiday but I hope to speak to someone tomorrow.

C "T" ess said:
Calm yourself. I've not heard of pinholes either but I suppose anything is possible. If that is what it is they will never apply enough heat to your car to do any damage. Remember a good portion of your car was welded together and yet it works fine. At worst, they will TIG weld the small holes. The TIG and MIG welding process applies high heat in short bursts. No problem there. I'll bet if there is a pin hole it is in the area of a factory seam. The biggest question is why did it take several years to start leaking?

Reactions: 1

C "T" ess

· #54 · Jan 19, 2016

sounds like using a band-aid when you really need stitches.

Reactions: 1

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #55 · Mar 18, 2016

Finale update .. I ended up trading my car to Cadillac for a 2016 ATS. I paid depreciation and they allowed me to pick a new ATS. Could not get the same colors as my old one, which kinda upset me, but I got a black one this time. Hopefully no leaking issues with the new one.

Reactions: 4

schwinn

· #56 · Mar 20, 2016

Congrats on a good resolution. I would have been concerned with "a while" of leaking inside the frame/pillars like that - you won't see the rust until it's too late. Glad to hear you got to trade out of that quickly!

Ragtop 99

· #57 · Mar 20, 2016

ATS4EVER said:
Finale update .. I ended up trading my car to Cadillac for a 2016 ATS. I paid depreciation and they allowed me to pick a new ATS. Could not get the same colors as my old one, which kinda upset me, but I got a black one this time. Hopefully no leaking issues with the new one.

So how's life with the new ATS? Did you change trim levels or engine?

ATS4EVER

Discussion Starter · #58 · Mar 21, 2016

so far so good. I got the AWD this time with same engine 2.0L T and same luxury trim. The navigation and CUE system is much improved and I like that, but I kinda dislike the engine auto stop feature, especially that it keeps defaulting back to on after I turn it off everytime I turn the car off and on again. Anyone knows how to default that feature to off instead of on?

Other than that I am liking it so far.

Reactions: 1

Braindonor23

· #59 · Oct 25, 2017

I know this is an old post but duneless can you please tell me what shop you used that did the windshield correctly on your ats? I am having all these same problems and have no faith in the dealer to resolve them.

duneless

· #60 · Oct 26, 2017

Braindonor23 said:
I know this is an old post but duneless can you please tell me what shop you used that did the windshield correctly on your ats? I am having all these same problems and have no faith in the dealer to resolve them.

Wow another CT person. Where you living at? I had Scranton motors in Vernon do it. They used a glass place in East Windsor on rt 5. So I picked it up right there because it's 5 minutes from my house. But it did take 3 times to get done right. They sent a CTS windshield the second time around. And if they mess it up the first time a new windshield has to be ordered. For some reason it's not an easy car to do.

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