Why is the floor of my Jeep Commander wet after it rains?

Short answer: On the Commander, water on the front floor after rain or a car wash is usually the sunroof drains. The sunroof has a tray with small tubes in each corner that carry water down the pillars and out under the vehicle. When a tube clogs or pops loose, the water ends up in the cabin instead. Owners fix it by clearing the drains, reattaching or replacing the tubes and opening up the outlets. Fix it soon, because water near the front of the cabin can damage wiring and modules.

Symptom: Soaked carpet in the front footwell, often the passenger side, water dripping from the A-pillar or headliner, or a musty smell after rain.

What to check first

1. Open the sunroof and pour a little water into each corner of the tray. It should drain out under the vehicle quickly.
2. If a corner drains slowly or not at all, clear the tube gently with compressed air or a thin flexible line. Don't push hard enough to pop the tube off.
3. Pull the kick panel trim by your feet and check that the drain tube is attached and its rubber outlet isn't clogged.
4. If the drains are clear, check the sunroof glass seal, door seals, windshield seal and roof rack bolts.
5. Dry the carpet and padding fully and check for wet wiring and plugs.

Likely causes

1. Clogged sunroof drain tubes. The most common cause owners report.
2. Drain tube disconnected or cracked behind the trim. Water empties inside the pillar instead of outside.
3. Small or plugged drain outlet at the bottom. Owners open these up so water flows out.
4. Worn sunroof, door or windshield seals, or roof rack bolts. Check these if the drains test clear.

What it usually costs

Clearing drains yourself costs almost nothing. We don't have reliable shop prices from these threads. Damage from water that sits, like wet modules or wiring, is where it gets expensive.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Yes, but don't let it go. Water in the front footwell can reach wiring and electronic modules and cause electrical problems, and wet carpet grows mold. Fix the leak and dry it out. Verify with a mechanic if any electrical problems start.

DIY or shop?

DIY for testing and clearing drains and reseating tubes. A shop can water-test and find seal leaks if the drains aren't the problem.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Service bulletin 23-004-06 (2006 Commander): Chrysler's bulletin for passenger cabin water leaks and wind noise, with places to check. A bulletin is repair guidance for dealers, not a recall.
• Recalls: NHTSA lists many Commander recalls for these years, none for sunroof leaks. Check your VIN. If your Jeep is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• NHTSA complaints: 118 keyword-matched complaints for Jeep Commander 2006–2010 (of 3,358 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-21; keywords: water leak, leaking water, sunroof, wet, soaked, carpet, floorboard, drain). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Passenger front floorboard flooding on the Jeep Commander Forum, an owner had water pooling in the front passenger footwell. Members pointed to the sunroof drains and how to clear and test them.
• In Sun roof drain tube leaks & general things to check on the Jeep Commander Forum, a member wrote up how to test each drain, clear clogs, open up the outlets and check other leak points when the drains aren't the cause.
• In Sunroof drain leak on r/JEEPCOMMANDER, owners discussed a sunroof drain leak and how they cleared the tubes and fixed the outlet so water could escape.

Quick tip

Give any used Jeep with a sunroof the bottle-of-water test. Pour it in each corner and look underneath.

Vehicle focus: 2006–2010 Jeep Commander with a sunroof.

Safety / mechanic note

Water can damage wiring and electronic modules. Verify with a mechanic.