Hi,

I've washed our new RDX a few times and afterwards there is always a lot of water on the flat surface below the tailgate. I wonder why they don't angle this surface more, so that the water runs off. Or maybe my driveway (where I wash my car) is sloped forward more than I think. Do others notice a lot of water under the tailgate after washing their RDX?

Gregg

 

Same here. I noticed this on our first car wash.
No it's not your driveway.

Yeah, they should have designed it a bit different. I think it was an oversight.

2nd of all I'm puzzled at the thickness of the tail gate.
I've opened it up to replace my reverse and lic plate lights with LED, and to what I can see there's a lot of empty hollow space in that tail gate.
Making it thinner could have added a bit more cargo space without changing any exterior dimension.

 

Yes, I have noticed the same thing. Water continues to drip from the tailgate for a long time.

Jim

 

Solution = I use my leaf blower over the car before I dry it after washing it. Gets all excess water out of the nooks and cranies

 

It's pretty typicial...I had 3 CRV's and they all had the same issue. Water will make it's way around the edges and it will drip when the tail gate is open. I always towel dry all those areas after a wash. No big deal. Never gets into the interior.

 

It's not a really big deal (though it does drip on me when I open the tailgate), but it seems like it could have been prevented in most cases by simply slanting the surface a bit.

Gregg

 

Well, 2 things to think about...the second one is key....first the design "look" would suck...and here it comes...#2....the door is sealed!! Slanted or not..it has to be...so....the water would still be in there.
Just sayin.....

 

I always dry off all of the jambs, gets rid of any dust or dirt that builds up. I hate opening any door or trunk and seeing dirt in there. Mine always look they came out of the showroom. It is no different with a car vs an suv, water gets in there when washing. Open the trunk or hatch and wipe it off same with door jambs and the frame of the doors, takes only a few extra minutes.

 

Sounds like we are discussing two different things. I believe OP is noticing the flat and horizontal nature of the top of the bumper. As it is hidden somewhat by the hatch, the bumper would hold water droplets until they dried and spotted the otherwise clean hatch area. IF the bumper were slanted just a bit, the water would shed off more readily, thus reducing the spotting. I found this spotting after picking up my RDX at the dealer post service. The exterior had been given a decent rinse and wipe-down, nothing extensive; but the droplets on the bumper dried before I got home and opened the hatch...the horror!!! Actually did look kind of yucky.

 

Yes, that is what I was talking about. There is no seal between the tailgate and the flat horizontal top of the bumper, as one person claimed. And it's more than droplets of water. There are large pools of water (maybe the equivalent of a shot glass or two). I think that a slight slant toward the rear of the vehicle would go a long ways to letting most of these pools of water drain. And this slant should not be visible, nor should it interfere with any seals.

Gregg

 

True, the door seal is not relevant in this issue. I just washed mine yesterday. Besides water being present, there is the dust and dirt that does seep in. That has to be wiped....yes? Yes...it took me...Oh...10 to 15 seconds to take my Turkish towel and wipe the ledge and the upper areas, etc. Wow..what's the big deal. Slanting the "flat area" that is part of the rear bumper cover would have to be so much for water to "run" out...that it would look ridiculous. And the dirt wouldn't all run with it. So...it would have to be wiped anyway.

My, my....if that is the kind of perfection you all are trying to find in a vehicle...good luck...it doesn't exist.

Shall we "slant the roof" so the water rolls off it too? The list could go on and on.

Do the 10 second wipe and smile...life goes on and this is not worthy of consternation of any kind. IMHO.

Enjoy one of the best "imperfect" SUV's on the road today!