4 Car Problems Caused by Potholes

Winter is finally over, but that doesn’t mean all the damage it caused is gone, especially when it comes to potholes. The number of potholes on motorways has increased, some seeming more like sinkholes with their massive size and depth.

While many of us try to avoid the potholes we see on the road, sometimes we can’t help but hit them because they are everywhere. This makes them a big problem for car owners throughout the UK. They not only disrupt your driving, but it is estimated that one out of ten mechanical failures are caused by potholes, costing car owners about £730 million each year in repairs and replacement car parts.

Car Parts Pot Holes can Damage

Your Renault wasn’t built to withstand damage caused by potholes, and even the smallest ones can take out some of your most important Renault parts.

• Steering System- It only takes one pothole to knock your wheels out of alignment, which can impact the way your Renault drives. Driving on wheels that are not aligned correctly can wear out your tyres quickly and unevenly. If your car begins shaking when you attempt to drive 50 to 60mph, the problem is most likely your alignment.

• Punctured Tyre- Driving over a pothole can actually puncture or pop your tyre. The most obvious issue with this is that you’ll have to have the flat fixed or replaced. However, this problem can actually lead to problems with car parts, like your rims. If the pothole is deep enough or shaped in such a way that it can puncture your tyre, it may also cause damage to the rims as well.

• Bent Rim- Even if a pothole doesn’t puncture your tyre, the odds of it bending the rim are significant. This can eventually lead to a flat tyre or even a blowout that could put your family, yourself, and others on the road in danger. If you lose control of the Renault during the blowout, you could also crash and damage other valuable car parts.

• Suspension, Struts, and Shocks- Unfortunately, not all of the damages potholes can cause will be immediately apparent like punctured tyres or bent rims. Certain car parts, like the suspension system, struts, and shocks, can be negatively affected when you continually drive over potholes day after day. If you notice that you’re feeling even bump on the road, stop in and visit your mechanic. Potholes may have worn down these Renault parts.

The cost of repairing damage caused by potholes can be significant. Avoid them if at all possible, and make sure to report them. Your local council will most likely have systems in place to repair potholes, but they can’t be everywhere or know everything. They want the public’s help to locate these potholes so they can be fixed and you can avoid repairing car parts damaged by them.

To alert other drivers to potholes on the road, you can also visit certain websites, like potholes.co.uk. Here you can pinpoint on a map where the pothole is, obtain information about how to report them to your local council, and help other drivers avoid problem areas.