A single pothole looks harmless until it isn’t. Drivers hit one, hear a thud, and move on. Hours later, a dashboard light glows or a new vibration starts. That small impact can unravel hidden systems in a modern car, and the repair bill can rise fast. Pothole damage doesn’t announce itself immediately, and that delay creates costs that feel like they came out of nowhere. Here is how it can spin out of control quickly.
