POTHOLE PAIN
How potholes are damaging your car revealed as expert tells how hidden cracks on your motor could cost you £1,000s
An expert offered his best tips for avoiding hefty repair bills
MOTORISTS have been warned potholes are inflicting invisible damage to their cars that is more costly than the problems we usually look out for.
Drivers are being forced to shell out on record-high bills to repair damage done by the potholes ruining Britain’s roads.
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And experts have said we must be aware of issues running beyond the usual punctured tyres and bent wheels.
Chris Jevons, a car repair specialist at JTAPE, said the damage lurking beneath the surface is harder to detect but often just as expensive.
He said: “Potholes don’t just damage your tyres and wheels, they can scrape vital underbody components, cause fluid leaks, and dislodge the sensors that modern vehicles rely on for safety and performance.
“These hidden damages often go unnoticed until they lead to significant and costly problems.
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“As repair costs continue to rise, it’s crucial for drivers to understand that potholes don’t just damage what you can see, they can also affect the unseen, high-tech components that keep your car safe and operational.”
Some of the dearest damage a pothole can do is to dislodge the high-tech safety sensors most modern cars are equipped with.
These have a range of uses including alerting a driver when they have strayed from their lane to automatic breaking and adaptable cruise control.
Chris said: “What many drivers don’t realise is that a single pothole impact can knock these sensors out of alignment or even dislodge them entirely.”
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He said the problem might not be immediately obvious, but the replacement of the sensors can cost “anywhere from £250 to £1,500”.
The underside of the car is particularly vulnerable to potholes, as this is the area flying low over the tarmac.
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Chris explained that “if a pothole is deep enough, it can puncture these parts, leading to slow leaks that might not be immediately visible”.
The underside parts at most risk to this kind of damage are oil pans and transmission pans, and will cost anywhere from £300 to £900.
If left unresolved, however, the engine or transmission may have to be replaced which could run into the thousands.
Repeated pothole strike test a car’s suspension to its limits - and often beyond.
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Chris said: “Potholes can bend control arms, damage struts, or even cause ball joints to fail” in the suspension system.
Uneven tyre wear, poor handling or unusual noises could be a clue something is wrong in this department - and suspension component replacements are likely to cost upwards of £500.
It’s not just individual parts that suffer from potholes.
Chris said that hard impacts from uneven roads can “do serious damage to the structural integrity of your vehicle”.
He added: “The subframe and chassis act as the backbone of the car, and if they’re dented, bent, or cracked, it can lead to misalignment of the entire vehicle.”
This kind of damage is incredibly labour intensive to fix, and will often set back motorists between £1000 and £3000.
In extreme cases, Chris said, the car might even be a write-off.
A final area to be aware of is the exhaust - our vehicles’ most exposed part.
Chris said: “When a pothole scrapes or cracks the exhaust pipes, muffler, or catalytic converter, it can lead to loud noises, reduced fuel efficiency, and increased emissions.”
A bog-standard exhaust replacement would cost around £300, but replacing a catalytic converter would set you back over a grand.
Chris said the best way to avoid all these problems is to drive carefully.
He said: “If you see a pothole ahead, slow down and, if it’s safe, try to steer around it.
“Avoiding a direct hit can save you from a costly repair bill.”
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He added: “If you do hit a pothole, don’t just assume your car is fine. Listen for unusual noises, check for dashboard warnings, and inspect for signs of damage like fluid leaks or changes in how the car handles.
“These can be early indicators of more serious issues.”
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