Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » I recently hit a pothole and my car now rattles - do you know what could be wrong?
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

I recently hit a pothole and my car now rattles - do you know what could be wrong?

Driving down a country lane I hit a deep pothole that was covered by a puddle. I was probably going around 25-30mph. My front wheel on the passenger's side is now rattling/squeaking. It’s not constant, just when I go over uneven surfaces and bumps. Any ideas what's wrong?

Asked on 2 February 2018 by Kenneth heaney

Answered by Alan Ross
From what you've described, you would be best to get it inspected. It could be damage to the wheel, steering gear, track rod etc. Without actually seeing it, it's rather difficult to identify - but would have it inspected ASAP. You may also want to consider taking a picture of the pothole (we assume there were no warning signs). If you have damaged the car, you might want to contact the relevant council with all the details and request compensation.

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide
Similar questions
I've been refused compensation for pot hole damage to two offside tyres by my local council. What can I do?
Three days ago I suffered a blowout of my nearside rear tyre that resulted in a replacement at a cost of £96.60. This was caused by a 6-inch pothole adjacent to a drainage grid that I have photographed...
My house is very close, (just over three metres at the closest point), to a busy A-road that carries a lot of HGV traffic. Just over three months ago a depression and potholes appeared in the road just...