Have you ever seen a stain like this in a car roof. Would it put you off buying it?

johnnyboyz

I'm buying a second hand car which is in great condition and is a good price for the age and mileage.
The only fault is two stains above the corners of the rear window.
They are about 8 and 10 inches long.
You wouldn't really notice them unless you were looking for faults.
They seem more obvious in the photos because I'm shining a light on them.
The stain doesn't really bother me but I worry that there is a leak or a flaw of some description.
Am I worrying over nothing?

Stubod

..suggests a water leak???..and yes if that is the case it would put me off unless there is an identified cause that has been rectified.

daveyjp

Make model and sge of car is always useful as there may be those who have owned the same car that can provide info on the issue.

johnnyboyz

It's a 2018 Ford Mondeo 

DullGreyGuy

It's a water stain so likely the seal on the door/boot (photos not 100% clear which it is) or if there is an aerial or such above at some point was leaking . Obviously not possible to say from that photo if the problems been fixed or is ongoing.

johnnyboyz

Just to try and clarify, it's in two locations. Where the rear window is, above both sides is a stain. So just above the left and right headrests in the back seat.
I can imagine one occurrence might be down to an accident, like a fizzy drink, but for it to happen in both sides looks suspiciously like a leaking seal or something.
There doesn't appear to be any external damage, it looks perfect.

HHarry

There’s an almost identical stain in the headlining of my Wifes car where the sunroof drain holes were blocked and it leaked inside.

DullGreyGuy

johnnyboyz said:

I can imagine one occurrence might be down to an accident, like a fizzy drink, but for it to happen in both sides looks suspiciously like a leaking seal or something.

Even if there was just one area I would still be thinking leak rather than fizzy drink. People tend to at least attempt to blot a drink dry and that kind of staining tends to occur after repeated exposure rather than a one off event. 

facade

Having owned a Sunderland built* Nissan Note, even the slightest suspicion of a water leak into the cabin (any staining, smells, damp seat/carpet, water under the spare wheel, rusty upholstery staples etc.) would have me running a mile!

(*By all accounts, the JDM ones were built properly and don't leak like sieves.)