Spare wheel access and wet well

[Anto]

Pulling out the spare wheel in my 2019 R-Line is painful. The two small hydraulic struts located both sides of the third-row seat are there to pivot the seat forward when the two latches are released via pulling the nylon straps. The struts don’t work on mine. I have to manually lift the seat then hold it up with one hand so that I can wedge the towing hook in to keep the seat up. It’s back breaking work and it’s the only way to access the spare. I’m not sure if I’m missing something here, some sort of trick, or have the struts failed?
Also, I frequently get water collecting in the spare wheel well. Is this a common issue?

[Guest001]

Shouldnt have water in there Does vehicle have sunroof. Have had to pull mine out occasionally but cant say its been a problembut then mine is a shorty

[MMR36]

A sunroof is a good culprit, but a few other options for water in the spare wheel well are; your rubber seals around the hatch itself could be pinched, it could be the diaphragms in the rear on each side, although a bit low down perhaps (these manage air pressure inside the car opening and closing doors), but the likely place is one of the hatch grommets. If there is a tear in the rubber from years of opening and weathering, water can go anywhere once onto the roof lining. Even a small tear will do it.

From unfortunate experience, much of the water volume runs down the D pillar and into the rear section and into the low point being the spare wheel well, that maybe the problem. You may also want to check any modules in the rear for water ingress, water can also sit inside near the wheel arches). Hatch itself may also get some.

hope that helps