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Potholes are common driving hazards that can cause severe damage to your vehicle. Drivers must know how to avoid and safely drive through these hazards. But where do they come from? Potholes are formed when temperatures change dramatically throughout the year. When rain or snow falls, groundwater expands and contracts, creating potholes on the surface. Potholes are also caused by heavy traffic.
Driving on a road with potholes can be dangerous, so stay alert. Most likely, you pass them every day on the street. Even though your vehicle can roll over potholes, avoiding them is advised. Depending on the size, a pothole can ruin your car's suspension, undercarriage, and wheels. It is more likely that repairs will break your wallet.
Drivers often consider small potholes mere inconveniences. However, if you don't want to break the bank getting your vehicle serviced at the shop, it is advisable to drive around potholes. There are several possible types of damage your Honda can sustain after hitting potholes, including:
Tires and wheels can be damaged
Nothing is more annoying than looking at scratched, cracked, bent, or chipped rims. Aside from looking unattractive, these wheels have a harder time rolling smoothly. You may discover them moving unexpectedly, which may even cause accidents.
Problems With Suspension
Potholes are also capable of causing suspension damage in extreme cases. Initially, suspension damage may not seem obvious, but it will become evident over time. For instance, your car may need suspension repair if it suddenly shakes or pulls to one side. Repairing these problems can be costly, so prevention is the best option.
Damaged Exhaust System
Large potholes can damage your car's undercarriage. Exhaust pipes are among the components most likely to be damaged by potholes. Deep potholes can scrape or puncture pipes, causing leaks and increased emissions.
Misaligned Bumpers
In an impact, your vehicle's bumper absorbs the shock. However, after hitting a pothole, the bumper can become loose or completely disconnect from its brackets. This is why it's always a good idea to check different parts of your car after driving over large potholes.
Alignment Problems With the Wheels
A large pothole can cause problems with your wheels’ alignment. All four wheels should be pointing in a consistent direction. If the wheels are misaligned, you will notice your car pulling to one side. You may have difficulty controlling the vehicle, and your tires wear unevenly. We can do realignment at Brannon Honda if you hit a pothole and need wheel realignment for your Honda.
Problems With the Undercarriage
A large pothole can also cause your car to bottom out. When their bottoms strike the ground, cars can suffer damage to their undercarriages. In some Honda vehicles, an underbody protector is included for off-road driving.
The speed at which you drive and the difficulty maneuvering around potholes make it tricky to avoid them in traffic. Most of the time, you can't just take sharp turns or brake suddenly, as these actions can increase the risk of collisions with other vehicles on the road.
Driving carefully can help you avoid potholes. When no other vehicles are in the area, check your mirrors and navigate around the potholes. Watch for other drivers on the road so that you can make safe decisions if you spot a pothole ahead.
If you live in an area where potholes are common, careful driving may not be enough. To minimize damage, ensure your Honda vehicle can handle rough terrain.
Ensure that your tires are in good condition: If you start hearing loud noises and notice that your tires are rolling unevenly, have a professional mechanic check them as soon as possible. You can contact our service department at Brannon Honda.
Make sure your tires are properly inflated: When driving on roads in terrible conditions, maintaining the right tire pressure is essential to reducing potential damage caused by potholes. It is critical to ensure that your tires are not overinflated or underinflated to reduce the risk of tire blowouts, punctures, and suspension damage.
Invest in a "tall" vehicle: The more ground clearance you have on your Honda, the less likely potholes will damage your vehicle. Having off-road tires or a taller vehicle will reduce your chances of sustaining damage if you hit a pothole. You should consider models with plenty of clearance if you live in a pothole-prone area. For example, the 2024 Honda Passport has 8.1 inches of ground clearance.
Get in touch with us if your vehicle gets damaged by a pothole. With Brannon Honda's service department in Birmingham, AL, and the surrounding areas, you can count on prompt, reliable service.
