Pothole Damage You Can & Cant Take Care of at Home

July 29, 2021

Pothole season usually crops up after winter, but have you ever wondered why? These gaping holes in the asphalt occur most frequently in snowy locations. When snow melts, the water seeps into cracks in the road. When temperatures drop again, this water freezes and expands ‐ rupturing the asphalt over time.

When you drive over these cracks in the road, they can leave your vehicle with pretty significant damage ‐ especially if you encounter them often or hit one harder than initially intended. Learn about the different types of issues that can occur from pothole damage and whether or not its possible to fix them yourself or if you're better off leaving it to the professionals at your local Nissan service center.

Pothole Damage Repair You Can do at Home

Tire and Rim Damage

Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that is in constant contact with the road, making rim and tire damage the most common. Hitting a pothole can pop or rip your tire which can leave you with an inconvenient blowout or sneaky air leak.

If you've hit a dent in the street, the best course of action is to inspect your car right away ‐ even if flat or bent rims aren't initially obvious. Check for bulges on your tires sidewall, and ensure that your rims aren't warped. Both problems need to be addressed while the car is still drivable.

Tire, wheel, and rim repair are best left to the experts. If a pothole has damaged your tires or rims, stop by for installation of your new tire if you've noticed that its beyond repair, or get a complimentary tire inspection if you aren't sure.

Wheel Alignment Issues

After encountering a significant pothole or a collection of them over time, your vehicles handling may become altered and your wheels misaligned. This can cause your steering wheel to vibrate, a decrease in fuel economy, the tires to wear unevenly, your car to pull either direction while driving on smooth and level roads, and unpredictable handling overall.

Performing a wheel alignment requires specific measurements and tools and should be left to the professionals at your local Nissan service center.

Pothole Damage Repair That's Best Left to Professionals

Shocks and Struts

Your shocks and struts are critical to your vehicles suspension system. These components keep your ride smooth by absorbing any bouncing as your Nissan drives down the road. When local potholes have damaged your vehicles suspension, your first warning sign is often rattling or clunking noises that may not have occurred before.

Other signs of damage to your shocks and struts include difficulty steering, nose-diving when braking, more bounce than before, and side-to-side "body rolls." Unfortunately, resolving this issue at home might not prove as simple as replacing your tires. Its best to have a professional inspect your vehicle, as you may need to upgrade your suspension system.

Compromised Exhaust System

Your exhaust system plays a major role in filtering out and removing dangerous particles from your vehicles engine. When your exhaust system becomes damaged after hitting a pothole the wrong way, you might experience a serious set of issues.

Because the exhaust system may not be able to filter things out of your system properly, you might notice decreased engine performance and hear a rattling noise after hitting a pothole. In short, damage to the exhaust system can lead to long-term issues with your engine if left unaddressed.

Since this part of your vehicle isn't always visible and detecting the specific problem can prove difficult, upgrading your exhaust system is best left to the professionals.

Compromised Exhaust System

The underbelly of your vehicle might not be the first area of your vehicle you'd consider inspecting after hitting a pothole. However, the undercarriage can easily scrape the road surface when your car dips down into a pothole, which can cause fluid leaks, pipe tearing, and rust in places you don't usually see on a daily basis.

Since there are many different components beneath your vehicle that may become damaged, its best to have a Nissan certified dealer inspect your vehicles undercarriage rather than trying to guess at any issues yourself. This can help you avoid any bigger, potentially expensive problems that may arise.

Replace Damaged Parts With Nissan Parts!

Get ahead of pothole damage today! Shop genuine OEM replacement parts for your Nissan online, and head to your nearest service center for professional installation.