A Comprehensive Guide to Pothole Damage

If you’ve ever driven over a pothole, you know just how uncomfortable it can be for you AND your car. Not only that, it can also cause damage to your vehicle in more ways than one. Our Orlando Toyota Collision Center is here with a guide on how to spot pothole damage, how to avoid potholes, and more.

Why is it important to look out for potholes?

We all know that potholes are an annoyance – they cause a huge bump, a loud noise, and can startle you when you’re behind the wheel (and sometimes they sound really, really bad). But there are even more reasons than that to avoid them. Potholes can actually cause pretty extensive and costly damage to your ride, and our Toyota of Orlando body shop techs are walking you through the types of pothole damage they’ve seen come into the shop.

Tire Damage

Pothole tire damage can cause flat tires, first of all. Impacts from the sudden drop into the pothole can expose your tires to sharp edges, which can puncture them and cause a blowout. It can also lead to tire sidewall separation (which then can also lead to a blowout), as well as cause bulges and blisters that make your Orlando Toyota more susceptible to going flat.

Investing in high-quality tires helps prevent pothole tire damage, but your best bet is to avoid potholes whenever you can. Don’t risk having to spend the money to replace a tire!

Wheel Damage 

You face more than tire issues when you’re dealing with pothole damage. Potholes can also crack or bend your wheels, which can then damage their airtight seals to the tires. This can lead to tire pressure leaks and flat tires. Potholes can also loosen your lug nuts and mess with your wheel bearings, which can lead to lots of noise and vibration. It can even cause your wheel to detach from your Orlando Toyota. Finally, wheel pothole damage can cause misalignment of your wheels, which leads to all sorts of other expensive issues. It’s not worth the stress and expenses – just drive around the pothole!

Suspension

Potholes can also damage your car’s suspension and cause misalignment. This type of damage can also cause your suspension to bounce and dive, which can result in you losing control of your vehicle on the road. Plus, suspension is expensive to fix – don’t risk it. Avoid driving over potholes when you can and go slowly if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t avoid it.

Undercarriage

The undercarriage of your car is composed of important elements like your exhaust system, your catalytic converter, your muffler, your oil pan, and more. Hitting a pothole can scrape or dent these VIP parts on your Orlando Toyota. This can lead to oil leaks that damage your engine (which we all know is incredibly expensive to fix) as well as issues with your exhaust, which can be dangerous for you and your passengers. Our advice? This alone is enough reason to avoid pothole damage however you can.

Body

Pothole damage can also occur on the body of your car if the pothole is deep enough. You can scratch and dent your car’s bumpers and sideskirts, leaving unsightly damage that isn’t cheap to repair and reduces your car’s resale value.

And in some instances, if the pothole is deep enough, you can even damage your car’s chassis or frame. We think you get the point… avoid potholes whenever you can.

What to do if you think you have pothole damage

If you couldn’t avoid a pothole and think you might have pothole damage, here are some steps to take before heading into our Orlando Toyota Collision Center.

Pull over. Take a minute to park your Orlando Toyota in a safe place and get out to ensure there’s no damage to your car. Check your tires, wheels, and bumpers, and take a peek underneath your car to see if you see any damage or any leaks.

Check for dashboard warning lights. If you see a new Toyota warning light in your dash after hitting a pothole, you definitely need to have your car checked out.

Pay attention to how your car drives. Once you’ve hit the road again, be mindful of any odd noises, vibrations, or if your car is pulling to one side. If you notice any of these things you definitely need the experts at Toyota of Orlando to pinpoint the issue.

How to avoid potholes

The best way to prevent pothole damage is to avoid them altogether. We’re making it simple™ – here are some tips on how to do just that.

• Pay attention – keep your eyes on the road at all times, especially on unfamiliar roads.
• Don’t drive through puddles. You never know how deep they are or if the water is hiding destructive potholes.
• Don’t follow other cars too closely. You won’t have time to react if a pothole is in your path.
• Drive more slowly in the dark so you can better see the road in front of you and have time to go around a pothole.
• Stay on top of car maintenance – keep your car tires and suspension in good shape so there’s less damage should you encounter an unavoidable pothole.

If you find yourself forced to drive over a pothole, it’s not the end of the world. Go as slowly as you can and keep a tight grip on the steering wheel to avoid it being jerked.

Get pothole damage fixed at Toyota of Orlando

Have pothole damage you need fixed? We’re here to help. Stop by Toyota of Orlando at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Mall at Millenia.

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