Why is rain water getting into my Ford Courier cab?

Short answer: Water behind the glove box on a Courier usually comes from blocked cowl drains below the windshield. Clean them out. If you're doing brakes, remember the Courier was built by Mazda with a 6-lug pattern, so order parts for the Courier itself.

Symptom: Water pools on the passenger floor or behind the glove box after rain, or brake parts don't fit.

What to check first

1. Open the hood and clean leaves out of the cowl below the windshield.
2. Pour water into the cowl and see where it drains.
3. Check the windshield seal for cracks.
4. When ordering brakes, give the parts store the Courier model and year, not a generic Ford truck.

Likely causes

1. Blocked cowl drain. The cowl is the area below the windshield where water collects. If its drains clog with leaves, water spills into the cab behind the dash.
2. Old windshield seal. A dried-out seal around the windshield can also let water in.
3. Wrong brake parts ordered. The Courier was built by Mazda and uses a 6-lug wheel pattern from the factory, so parts for other Ford trucks won't fit.

What it usually costs

Owners in these threads didn't post prices.

Is it safe to keep driving?

A cab leak is safe to drive with short-term, but water can rot the floor and damage wiring. Brakes are a safety item.

DIY or shop?

Cleaning drains and doing brake pads and rotors are DIY. Windshield reseal is a glass shop job.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA's recall lookup returned no data for the Ford Courier for 11 model-year queries on 2026-10-29, so we couldn't confirm recalls here. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 0 keyword-matched complaints for Ford Courier 1972–1982 (of 0 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-29; keywords: leak, water, brake, rotor) (NHTSA returned no data for 11 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Courier leak on Car Talk, a '76 Courier owner had a big rain leak behind the glove box. Members pointed to a blocked cowl drain.
• In ' 78 Ford Courier Pickup Rotor - 6 Lugs! not 4 or 5 on Car Talk, a '78 Courier owner was surprised to find 6-lug rotors. Members confirmed the Courier is Mazda-built and has 6 lugs from the factory, and named a matching aftermarket rotor.

Quick tip

Clean those cowl drains every fall. It's free, and it saves the floor pan.

Vehicle focus: Ford Courier compact pickup (Mazda-built), 1972-1982.

Safety / mechanic note

Brakes are a safety item. Verify with a mechanic.