Potholes may appear as minor pavement issues but can cause serious impact that disrupts your car’s suspension system, steering and other critical components.
Nothing seems wrong initially, so you keep driving but a day later, your car pulls to one side or requires more force to steer.
Ignoring these concerns can accelerate wear and tear, putting your safety at risk in the event of an accident. If you hit a pothole, here’s why it’s important to schedule a vehicle inspection.
What Does Hitting a Pothole Do to Your Car?
Warmer temperatures often reveal roadways riddled with potholes of varying sizes and depths. While you can do your best to navigate around them, sometimes you’re caught by surprise.
That “thunk” you feel is more than a bump. Your vehicle absorbs sudden compression and rebound forces in seconds, potentially leading to immediate and significant damage, like:
- Collapsed, dislodged or punctured tires
- Dented wheel rims
- Misaligned suspension, steering and exhaust system components
How Can Hitting a Pothole Damage My Car?
Your car might ride and look unchanged, but striking a pothole can affect the following systems.
Suspension
The impact can throw off alignment and damage parts like the shocks, control arms and wheel mounts. Afterward, your car may rock, bounce, ride rough or sit low to the ground.
Tires and Wheels
The force traveling through your car hits the tires and wheels first and often the hardest. Rims can distort, the tires bulge and the wheels feel a little shaky – and that’s if you don’t experience a flat at the scene.
Even for minor potholes, vibrations and misalignment are known to accelerate wear, make driving uncomfortable, or increase the risk of a blowout.
Exhaust System
A misaligned suspension system can place parts like the muffler and exhaust pipes just inches from the pavement, where they can absorb more impact and quickly wear out.
Brake System
The impact may damage brake system components and deplete its fluids, which can affect how quickly your vehicle stops.
What Are the Signs of Pothole Damage?
With potholes, faster speeds and greater depth generally result in more serious damage. Even when you’re careful, you may still notice:
- Bulging tire sidewalls
- Punctured or collapsed tires
- Uneven tire wear
- Dented or scratched rims
- A steering wheel that looks crooked, vibrates, pulls to one side or needs correcting
- Bumpiness and bouncing
- Poor handling
- Drifting, swaying or pulling to one side
- A dip or fishtail motion as you accelerate or brake
- Leaking fluids
- Vibrations or rattling as you drive
How Can You Avoid Pothole Damage?
Lower your risks by:
- Keeping your distance from the car in front
- Regularly checking tire pressure
- Inspecting your tires for wear and tear
- Repairing issues with alignment, steering and braking before they become serious
Should You See a Mechanic After Hitting a Pothole?
Even if your car seems fine, you can’t ever be too careful. Scheduling an inspection after this seemingly minor incident helps identify hidden concerns like:
- A crooked steering system
- Suspension damage
- Misalignment
- Damaged wheel bearings
Did you recently hit a pothole?
Whether the impact damaged your suspension, wheels, or even your vehicle’s frame, our technicians can perform a complete inspection, identify hidden damage, work directly with your insurance company if needed, and restore your vehicle to safe driving condition. Schedule service today.
