1.7m MOT failures now caused by potholes – how to protect your car

New analysis has revealed that potholes are responsible for up to 1.7 million MOT failures every year – a figure that will come as little surprise to anyone who regularly navigates Britain's crumbling roads. 

Using DVSA data, The Sun analysed 2.5 million MOT failure points typically associated with pothole damage across 1.74 million cars. 

Over 1.1 million suspension arms and ball joints were found to be damaged, 882,000 springs had snapped, and 450,000 shock absorbers were ruined.  

Two-thirds of all these failures were concentrated in the front wheels – the first point of contact when a car drops into a ditch.  

However, not all failures will have been caused solely by potholes. Natural wear and tear may have also played a role in the MOT failure. 

Where is it worst?

Birmingham topped the list of pothole damage hotspots, with 34,758 cars failing their MOT with faults commonly linked to road surface damage. Sheffield came second with 33,896 failures, followed by Nottingham, Glasgow and Cardiff. 

How to protect your car

Until the roads improve, the best defence is knowing how to drive around the problem. 

 Here's what you can do: 

1. Keep your distance – always leave at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle ahead. If they brake or swerve suddenly to avoid a pothole, you'll have the time and visibility to react rather than hitting the same hazard blind. 

1. Slow down, don't slam the brakes – if you spot a pothole ahead, ease off the accelerator and gently steer around it where it's safe to do so. Braking sharply just before impact can actually make the damage worse, as it shifts the car's weight onto the front wheels. 

1. Check your tyres regularly – tyres are your first line of defence against pothole damage, and a worn tyre offers far less protection than a healthy one. Get into the habit of checking them before any long journey, and look out for bulges or cracks in the sidewall, which can be caused by pothole impacts even when the tread looks fine.