THUD! It's the all familiar sound that drivers hear when their vehicles hit one of the many potholes littered throughout San Diego.Given the substantial amount of rainfall witnessed this year, our familiarity with these potholes has increased even further.
Potholes can take shape through various means, but typically they occur when water infiltrates cracks in the road. As vehicles drive over these cracks, the asphalt deteriorates and forms a pothole.
Potholes pose more than just an annoyance—they inflict a substantial financial blow. AAA's data reveals a staggering $26.5 billion spent by drivers in 2021 alone to repair pothole damage to their vehicles, underscoring the severity of potholes.
In 2023 the zip codes with the highest number of potholes were reported in 92126 (Mira Mesa), 92111 (Kearny Mesa), and 92117 (Clairemont Mesa). While the least number of potholes were reported in 92067 (Rancho Santa Fe).
| ZIP CODE | NUMBER OF REPOERTED POTHOLES |
|---|---|
| 92126 | 1962 |
| 92111 | 1797 |
| 92117 | 1537 |
| 92037 | 1086 |
| 92109 | 1004 |
| 92128 | 949 |
| 92120 | 881 |
| 92110 | 823 |
| 92121 | 818 |
| 92101 | 811 |
| 92104 | 777 |
| 92114 | 724 |
| 92103 | 686 |
| 92123 | 615 |
| 92154 | 609 |
| 92115 | 565 |
| 92108 | 556 |
| 92105 | 509 |
| 92102 | 486 |
| 92116 | 479 |
| 92122 | 464 |
| 92129 | 431 |
| 92113 | 406 |
| 92130 | 397 |
Methodology: SellMax conducted an analysis of pothole repair requests submitted by San Diego residents through the Get It Done App. The SellMax team organized the data for the year 2023 and identified the zip codes with the highest volume of repair requests.
Many individuals often wonder how exactly a pothole can cause damage to their car. Potholes can lead to the following issues and more:
1. Pop your tires.
2. Damage your suspension and struts.
3. Bend your tie rods.
4. Car alignment can be thrown off.
5. Damage your rims.
1. Stay focused while driving (you’ll have a higher probability of seeing the pothole)
2. Avoid puddles. If you can avoid driving through a puddle do so because often times a pothole is underneath.
3. Keep tires inflated. If your tires are inflated to the recommended tire pressure, the risk of damage is much less.
Pothole damage costs individuals an average of $600.00 to be repaired, so you're probably looking for answers on how to get reimbursed.. Drivers can file a claim here; however, based on conversations with multiple mechanic shops and our own experience, we have not yet encountered any instances of individuals being reimbursed for pothole damage. Potholes are a significant issue that affect numerous families throughout San Diego, and the city must find a way to better address this predicament.