Wife's car got partially flooded this weekend

Hi everyone... advise solicitation time.

We were on vacation the past week (went to lovely San Diego for a few days), and parked our car at an offsite airport parking lot near Logan (Boston). Apparently there was a large storm and unlucky us and our parking at the back of the lot near the Charles river, my wife's Rogue got partially flooded. We had no idea that the water rose into the car, so when we got to the lot late last night (flight delayed because Logan is apparently catching up from the storm) and dropped off from the shuttle, we jumped in and drove away (car started fine, no indication that there was anything wrong). As the shuttle was dropping us off, a woman in the car parked right next to ours was telling the shuttle driver that her car was flooded and she'd need a ride back to the office. I was tired, and it never even clicked she meant water flooding.... I just was thinking in my tired brain... how does someone flood (gas) a modern engine car?

As we were leaving the parking lot, the speaker in the dash was crackling and popping, even with the radio off, and then a few minutes later the seatbelt indicator started flashing (we were all buckled up), the airbag light started flashing... and my tired brain actually started working... so I reached down and the carpet and mats were soaked. the seats weren't wet, there wasn't water in the lower door compartments.

We called the lot, they said let us know what to send your insurance... we called our insurance and got a claim started.

My question... what should we expect from insurance? It's a 2013 Rogue with 58k miles... if they total it, what can we expect to receive (we paid $25k). Do we have any rights to push back and try to get more money if they come back with a really low amount?

Just curious what other people's experience and advise would be. Thanks.

 

Id get any and all camera footage the parking lot company has that might show the water level and go from there

 

Unfortunately, it's probably totaled. As noted above, try to see if there is any record of how high the water rose. Also, there are independent valuation appraisal services that can help if you feel the offer is too low.

 

If safety equipment like airbag electronics need to be repaired, and insurance gives the go ahead to have it fixed, and then there's a failure sometime after the repair, can the insurance company have some liability for that failure? If so, the insurance company would likely total the vehicle rather than chance taking on that liability.

 

Edmonds says its value is about 14k.

 

Not to mention that salt water does a number on electronics too.

 

Document every warning light you see/saw. Take it for a drive with someone following you [if it quits running] Reason is if your insurance company checks it and it's not coding/showing system warnings or failure, they may offer less or do nothing, flooded vehicles can be very problematic down the road, fluids needs to be drained and replaced, connections can corrode and act up due to low voltages and resistance where there should be none, wheel bearings will likely have been contaminated, repairing a flooded vehicle RIGHT can be time consuming and expensive and usually, short cuts are taken. Modern vehicles, with all the electronics and wiring are especially bad. Make yourself a check list of anything that could have had water intrusion, you want to make sure they inspect, OK, and long term cover it if it fails several months down the road.

If you can get info on how deep the water was at peak, it might help you immensely in your claim. Note all areas that were wet or damp,water can wick much higher then the surface of it with materials that absorb it and it can get inside wiring and cause corrosion and resistance the same way.

 

It's totaled. You do not want to hold onto a flood car.

Subbed.

 

Good advice already with footage of the water level and warning lights.

On the flip side, I've flooded the taco twice to the floor boards (fresh/muddy water). Other than a starter that shit the bed and a squeaky idler pulley I haven't seen any other issues in 6+ years.

 

Salt or fresh water? I know you said 'river', but is it tidal/brackash?

How deep? Since seats are dry, I'll assume not to the bottom of the seats.

The lights you mention have sensors/connectors at levels below the seats. Airbag crash sensors up behind the bumper for example, and seatbelt / airbag activation under the seat.

Where is the ECU mounted? Suspect it's dry, as the vehicle ran.

If only to the level of the floor pans, if fresh water, if ECU is dry, it may be a simple disassembly and dry out.

If it's salt water, its more complex, but it can be done too, again, depending on the depth of intrusion and the quality of the cleanup crew.

If it's declared a total, it's no different than a wreck. You'll have to work to get a good $ figure in most cases. Keep in mind it doesn't mean a thing what you paid for it, all that matters is what it's worth now.

Best of luck!

 

Sorry should have updated... Insurance declared it a total loss. Got just shy of $14k.

I somehow feel I got tricked because we are picking up a bmw x3 (used) today. I am suspicious of some spousal foul play causing the flood but have no evidence. This was a very expensive quick vacation to San Diego

 

Don't think you were tricked, since the car next to you was flooded also:

 

Maybe that's just a way to throw me off her trail. Do a similar crime nearby to make it look natural. Brilliant!

 

I will say though .. Liberty mutual isn't really giving us a hard time. The only partial roadblock is that we probably aren't getting their check until later next week after we send and they receive the title for the rogue.

So I don't think we have to prove how bad the flood was into the car or anything like that.

And to follow up some questions .. This was a tidal river so saltwater/brackish. The collision place we brought it to for assessment didn't dismantle anything as my wife went yesterday to get all her stuff out of it. It stank.

 

I had a civic get flooded to the bottom of the windows. It was totaled but the adjuster said he had to spend forever listing the various parts that would get replaced in order to total it out.

I expect they will pay you for repairs to the car. I would have dried it out and traded it in. I’ve had two floods in the past couple years it’s been hell. Now I live on top of a hill.

 

It would be fresh rain water. There isn't any place with tidal backwash that would risk a parking lot like that near the airport. The "river" on an average day is more like large stream, but with heavy rains, it normally overflows into city streets, etc. Why San Diego hasn't fixed this after having this issue decade after decade is beyond me.

 

This was in Boston.

 

The 'event' occurred in Boston.

 

Whoops...

Woops...

 

Look in the door jams and see if you can tell how high the water got to especially if you can't get any video. Might be a hidden waterline in there. Lots of wiring in door sills and under seats.