So I took my lovely 18 month old Blackline into the local dealership with water in the drivers footwell. Well actually the carpet under the mat was soaking and under the seat had mould growing on it. So after 3 days in the garage I had a phone call yesterday to say that they had taken the interior out and discovered the actual body shell is leaking. It is now off to the bodyshop to have the wing taken off and more investigation work. The only thing I can think of is that maybe a seem had gone somewhere? The dealership said they had never come across this before and had passed the details to Skoda UK who have now hired me a car in the mean time as no time frame of getting my car back.

Has anyone else ever come across this or heard about it before?

wow, Im sorry to hear this, Im very surprised so would be interested to find out whats caused it

I've never heard of an Octavia having this problem before. It sounds like it could be a while before you get it back as well. I know that my Grandad had an works Escort van in the 80's that had the same problem but it was the passenger side that leaked and he never managed to get it fixed the whole time he had the van. It sounds like a weld has failed on the engine bay bulkhead and that is where the leak is coming from. Worst case senario is the engine and entire dash and associated electrics will have to come out to re-weld the broken weld. I'm not saying that it is a broken weld but if it is then it could be a pain to fix properly

Obviously I've done a bit if research and I can only find things on door seals or people who have had their windscreens replaced badly. I am however a little worried with this development for one that the bulkhead is ever so slightly integral and that if it can not be repaired and needs a new shell it maybe written off. Will hopefully know more on Monday as I'm going to pay the bodyshop a visit.

This exact problem has been reported on here before, and it is a known problem from time to time on the octavias.

Had the same problem on my previous octavia but on the passenger side. took it to the local dealership several times before taking it to rainworth in mansfield who diagnosed and fixed it first time.Turned out to be dodgy sealer on a joint on the bulkhead. It was a dash out job but i had no problems with squeaks or rattles afterwards

That's a little reassuring I think. At least it's not the only one. Glad they did a good job of yours and really hope they do the same for mine. They have hired me an aweful new rav4 at the moment, feels like it's made out of tin.

Went to collect a few bit off what left of the car. Still no closer to finding out the exact location of the water and the footwell is still very wet.

Is it just the sealant on the bulkhead that fails? I take it the integrity and welds are not an issue?

I had a Saab 93, upon joining the Saab forum I discovered that cracked bulkheads were not unknown, it's not just Octavia's

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Shame, my Blackline turned out to be one of the most reliable VAG cars ive had to date and have had several. Hope they fix it.

I had a Saab 93, upon joining the Saab forum I discovered that cracked bulkheads were not unknown, it's not just Octavia's

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Was that problem not only on the convertables, due to extreme body twist with it having no tin top. you can buy a strutbrace to stop it on the saabs.

Hi there, no tin tops as well, first tell take sign usually knocking on full lock. Had a 2.2TiD, still have fond memory's of that car. 135k on the clock and as tight as the day it left the factory

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