Pothole Damage: How It Affects Your Car’s Structure | Auto Body Repair

Johnson City’s Local Auto Body Shop: What a Pothole Really Does to Your Car

Johnson City, United States – July 20, 2026 / Automan Collision & Repair LLC /

Johnson City, TN, July 20, 2026 – Automan Collision & Repair, LLC, a Johnson City auto body repair shop, is advising Tri-Cities area drivers this spring to have their vehicles professionally inspected following the region’s winter freeze-thaw season, which has left East Tennessee roads marked by pothole conditions capable of causing structural frame damage that most drivers never notice. The shop reports that pothole-related structural and body damage is among the more common repair requests it receives in the weeks following the winter and early spring months.

Graphic from Automan Collision emphasizing thorough vehicle inspections to find hidden bumper damage.

The Hidden Cost of Tennessee Roads

Poor road conditions are a documented financial burden on American drivers. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, poor road conditions cost U.S. motorists an average of $1,000 per year in vehicle damage and operating costs. In the Tri-Cities region, freeze-thaw cycles during winter months widen and deepen existing cracks in pavement, leaving behind hazards that carry over into the spring driving season.

Automan Collision & Repair, a local auto body repair shop in Johnson City with over 30 years of experience, reports that pothole-related structural and body damage is among the more common repair requests the shop receives following winter and early spring months.

What Pothole Damage Actually Looks Like

A pothole impact sends a sudden, sharp force through a vehicle’s body and frame simultaneously. The damage that results falls into two categories: immediate and cumulative.

Immediate damage includes cracked splash shields, shifted body panels, and visibly stressed seams. Cumulative damage builds over time, gradually placing stress on the vehicle’s structural frame and weakening welds that are critical to crash performance.

James Gorman, Owner of Automan Collision & Repair, has seen this pattern consistently at the shop. “Most drivers assume that if the car still drives, nothing serious happened,” Gorman said. “But pothole damage to the body and frame often builds quietly. By the time someone notices something is off, the damage has already spread across multiple structural components.” He noted that the shop prioritizes identifying this type of damage early, before it compounds into a larger structural problem.

Vehicles built with a unibody frame, where the body and structure are a single welded unit, distribute pothole impact stress across the entire body. A stress-fractured weld or shifted panel may not be visible from the outside. In some cases, a vehicle that appears to drive normally may have already sustained damage to structural welds or frame components that only a professional inspection can identify. If those issues go unaddressed, they can affect how the vehicle performs in a future collision.

Free Inspections Available at a Local Auto Body Shop in Johnson City

Automan Collision & Repair is offering free, no-obligation estimates for drivers who suspect pothole-related body or structural damage to their vehicle. As an I-CAR Gold Class certified auto body shop in Johnson City, TN, the shop meets the collision repair industry’s highest training standards. They work with all insurance providers and handle claims paperwork on behalf of their customers.

Drivers throughout Johnson City and nearby areas in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee can schedule an inspection by calling the shop directly or visiting the website.

Infographic from Automan Collision listing risks of ignoring pothole impact, featuring a mechanic aligning a front bumper.

About Automan Collision & Repair, LLC

Automan Collision & Repair, LLC is a locally and family-owned auto body and collision repair shop located at 114 Industrial Rd., Johnson City, TN 37615. Founded on the principle that every vehicle deserves expert care, the shop has served the Johnson City and Tri-Cities communities for more than 30 years. Automan holds I-CAR Gold Class certification, the collision repair industry’s highest training standard, and is a consistent Reader’s Choice Award winner, recognized by the community for quality repairs and outstanding service. The shop works with all insurance providers and manages the claims paperwork process on behalf of its customers. Because Automan operates independently of any direct repair program, the focus remains entirely on the customer. Services include collision repair, auto body repair, windshield and window replacement, headlight restoration, and professional detailing. Free, no-obligation estimates are available.