DRIVERS have raised their concerns about a common road issue causing hidden damage to their vehicles that ends in costly repair bills.
To make matters worse, the problems will only increase over the coming months.
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A repair shop has issued a warning explaining the five red flags drivers must look out for to avoid doing any further damage to their cars.
Frustrated drivers in Lehigh Acres in Lee County, Florida, have raised concerns about the state of their roads which are full of potholes.
“I’m concerned for my tires, and they’re not little. These holes are large,” resident Jennifer Mitchell, a longtime resident of Lehigh Acres told Wink News.
She slammed local officials saying that despite the more than $5 million used every year by Lee County for resurfacing roads, “they’re not doing a good job”.
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“They apply it as if they take it in the shovel, zoop, and walk away,” Mitchell said.
“They should be proud of their job and smooth it down nicely.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Mendez, the manager at the Lee Transmission and Auto Repair shop has revealed the extent of the damage potholes can cause, often without the driver knowing, and which cars are more at risk.
“It cracked my rim. I had to get a new tire. Had to get a new rim. It was pretty bad,” he told the news outlet.
“A lot of different things could happen,” he said of the damage poor road surfaces can cause.
“Mostly it’ll be in your suspension, which is supposed to absorb the shock from any impact. You could see damage to control, arms, shocks, struts, the tire, obviously the rim.”
Drivers of vehicles lower to the ground are more at risk of damaging their cars with potholes, he warned.
Mendez recommends getting your car checked after hitting a pothole regardless of if you think there is damage or not.
Often, it can be hidden and leaving issues until they are more significant will be more costly.
Mechanics at Barry’s Auto Body in New York have also highlighted this issue.
What to do if you hit a pothole
Barry’s Auto Body advises drivers do the following:
- Safely pull over and perform a visual inspection
- Check your tires for visible damage, bulges, or loss of pressure
- Note any unusual sounds or sensations from your vehicle
- Schedule a professional inspection even if there is no clear signs of damage
“When you hit a pothole, the immediate impact may seem minor, especially if you don’t see visible signs like a flat tire or a dented rim,” they said.
“However, potholes can cause subtle yet severe damage underneath your vehicle, often remaining unnoticed until the damage becomes severe.
“Your car is composed of numerous interrelated systems.
“Even minor disruptions to one component can lead to bigger mechanical issues over time.”
Potholes are a common problem that will only worsen over the coming months as the warmth of summer is exchanged for the freeze and thaw cycles of fall and winter, causing more cracks and holes in the road surface.
FIVE WARNING SIGNS
With this in mind, drivers should be aware of the warning signs that they have sustained hidden damage.
Barry’s Auto Body says the following five signs indicate pothole damage:
- Steering pulling or drifting
- Increased vibrations or shaking, especially at higher speeds
- Sudden or unusual tire wear patterns
- Persistent or recurrent tire pressure issues
- Dashboard warning lights
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