Cavalier LS 2.2L Ecotec

• Automatic transmission
• 80,000 miles

I first noticed the problem almost a year ago when putting luggage in the trunk. The floor seemed to be wet and there was condensation all over the inside of the trunk lid. Assuming the moisture was just from condensation, ( I live in the Pacific NW where its' always cold and wet ) I just put a heater in the trunk overnight and dried the trunk out. A week or so later, I noticed the same thing, but this time it was really wet...I mean mold and soaking wet carpet. Being handy with automotive stuff I completely disassembled the trunk , carpet liner and spare tire area. After determining that the weather stripping was all intact and that the water was not coming in from the top, I noticed dirt and sand all over the metal floor under where the carpet lays. It appeared that when the car was assembled at the factory, several body seams lacked any caulking or sealer. Upon further inspection, it also appears that when driving on wet roads, the spray from the rear tires seeps into a major rubber/plastic body vent behind the carpet liner, eventually making it's way down to settle in around the spare tire. After drying out the car and plugging up all the cracks with silicone sealant and covering the vent up with duct tape, we'll see if this car stays dry now. I must say that I am rather unimpressed with the fit and finish of this car. In the model year 2003 one would just assume that GM would naturally assume that the consumer would prefer to have the rain on the outside of the car and taken steps to make sure it stays that way. It's easy to understand why Toyota is close on the heels of General Motors. This is one of many very inconvenient problems I have had with this modern car. This is also the last GM product I will own. A very cheaply constructed car indeed...