My daughter has a little Mazda 121 (not hatchback) that leaks when it
rains -- as in an inch of water on the floor after a moderate
rainfall. Just to make things tricky, the seats aren't wet and there's
no obvious entry point. We've done the obvious things like siliconing
around the sunroof and the windscreens and it's definitely not getting
in there. Does anyone have any ideas of whether this is a common
problem with this model and what we can do to fix this very soggy
problem other than build a garage or wear our wellies when we're
driving in it?

Hi stressedmum-ga,

I would suggest that you take the car to be looked at either back to
the dealer or whereever you normally take the car to be repaired. If
there is no water on the seats or on the sides of the car then the
next place is the bottom of the car. There could be holes or cracks of
some sort under the car.  This could explain why the seats are dry
because as you drive through water the water will splash on the bottom
of the vehicles and go through the cracks or holes. So take your car
to be checked.

I also did research on reviews of Mazda 121 and her are the results.

Reviews
http://www.motornet.ie/readerreviews/review.asp?review_id=2433
Mazda 121 reviews, the most well written
http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Mazda_121.html


Hope this helps


jeanwil-ga

search words 'mazda 121 water leakage' 'mazda reviews'

Hmmm. I mustn't have explained clearly enough that the car is leaking
whilst parked in our driveway. There are no holes or cracks through
which such a quantity of water could enter from underneath while we're
driving without us noticing that fact -- even if we are from
Downunder;) I appreciate the effort in sourcing the two reviews, hence
the two stars but I must confess to being disappointed in the answer.
Thank you to sammy128 for your comments which sound far more likely to
be the cause of our annoying little problem. We've had a drought here
so there are definitely no 18" puddles! Thanks again.

The most likely areas are-
Bulkhead, water drains down the windshield across the gutter and away
to the sides of the car.
If this rain channel is blocked or damaged, water can penetrate
through the seal, and then finds a path to follow, i.e. onto any entry
points to the inside of the car, a wiring loom or clutch assembly
pedal perhaps.
You will need to lift the hood to check the channel

Similarly the back of the car, rear windshield water channel. Also
check seals around the doors.

There are no common problem issues for the car you mention.

Good luck!

PS
it would be most unlikely water is getting in through the underside of
the vehicle, unless the car is driven through 18" puddles!

I forgot to add, how to check.
When the car is dry.
Connect garden hose and create a "downpour" to the area of the car
directly to top of windshield.
(maybe on hands and knees) search under dashboard for drips coming in.
Repeat the process on all areas of the car until the source of the
leak can be found.

I had the same trouble, and the solution was exactly what sammy128-ga
has proposed.  My drain from the bottom of the windshield was clogged
with leaves, so the water never made it to the bottom of the car to be
eliminated.  It found a path into the car, and would dump water on my
legs when I made right-hand turns !  It was gathering in the bottom of
the dash and pouring out on my legs when I turned.

Once the leaves were blown out of the drain holes, the problem
disappeared.