You've described exactly the same problem I have with my Rowena. This is my second one. The first also developed the same problem. No more Rowenas for me.

I have a rowenta and Love it, i do find if you go to use it when it is not fully heated up it sometimes will "pee' a little, but never to that extent I use it in the shop. I also still love my Old Dino of a Proctor Silex that doesnt even have an auto Shutoff and it just keeps on going and going, even after 5 or 6 nose dives due to the cat walking across the ironing board she just steams right along. Hope the day never comes that we have to part. I bought her in a thrift store for $5.00 years ago. she stays at home where i can always remember to turn her off when we are done for the day.

Ditto !!!!!!!!

I'm another sucker! Thought it would be great! A big leaking disappointment! Never again!

Big Ditto!!!!!!!!

I bought two expensive Rowenta irons and they both leaked. I won't be purchasing any more. I have an Oliso and love it.

Mine did the same thing after awhile, strange my mom had her iron till she died and never had a problem with it. I gave it away cause it wasn't a name brand. Now I wish I had it.

A friend of mine found me an old small iron at a yard sale. No holes.I wanted it for putting fusible on since my old iron always left bumps. My T-Fal doesn't so I have yet to use the old one. People seem really turned off by the auto off. I don't mind since I need it.But a quick pop up and down and it turns back on. And heats up quickly.
I will stick with it.Isn't it grand that there are so many different products we can choose from and we can find ones that suit our usage and pocketbooks?

I had the same problem with my leaking Rowenta and I mentioned it to my electrician. He said it might be due to the iron wattage. Our homes are pretty much wired for up to 1500 watts for small appliances and these higher wattage irons never get hot enough and so they leak. Sounds like as good as reason as any.

I had one Rowenta and it leaked this brown liquid the very first time I used it. I was using distilled water. Don't recall if the instructions said to use DW or if it said NOT to use it.