CARSTAR Body Shop Blog

Your vehicle’s undercarriage is crucial but often ignored—that is until it is damaged.

This can range from minor issues like scratches and dents to more severe damage that requires repair—or, potentially, full part replacements.

Below, we’ll discuss whether undercarriage damage can be fixed, how to recognize the signs it has occurred, and when it’s time to seek a professional auto-repair specialist.

What Is the Car’s Undercarriage?

Your car’s undercarriage serves as the foundation for the vehicle’s entire structure, protecting essential components from road conditions, debris, and other elements. The undercarriage includes the:

• Chassis
• Suspension system
• Axles
• Drivetrain
• Brake lines
• Exhaust system

These are all vital to your vehicle’s stability, safety, and performance. 

How Serious Is Undercarriage Damage?

Because it isn’t in your immediate view, it’s easy to overlook the potential problems associated with damage to the undercarriage. But, this damage can be severe, impacting your vehicle’s structural integrity, making your car undrivable, or causing erratic changes in performance. Even seemingly minor undercarriage damage is bad enough to become a serious issue.

Signs of Damage to Your Undercarriage 

Damage to your vehicle’s undercarriage can be a minor inconvenience or could lead to extremely dangerous driving conditions. Many drivers aren’t aware of the vital parts that are out of view. The following are some of the signs that could indicate you’ve sustained damage to your undercarriage.

• Rust or corrosion: Especially when left untreated or unserviced, exposed damage, dirt, debris, and moisture can cause the metal of any of your undercarriage components to rust and eventually corrode.
• Leaking oil: An oil leak can be a sign of damage to the oil pan.
• Uneven tire wear: This typically is related to misalignment. Look at your tires’ treads to see if they are more smooth and worn down unevenly. Different wear patterns can be a sign of different alignment issues.
• Leaking brake fluid: This can result from cracks in a hose or a damaged brake line.
• Difficulty steering: If you are finding it difficult to keep your car straight and it is veering off course when holding the steering wheel still, it can be a sign of several different undercarriage issues. This is also true if the steering is exceedingly loose. This could point to a combination of uneven tire wear, suspension, or other problems.
• Bottoming out or excessive body roll: If your car hits or scrapes the surface of the road when you hit a small bump or leans heavily when making turns, it is possible that your suspension has been damaged.
• Leaking transmission fluid: Damage to your car’s undercarriage can cause your transmission to leak fluid under your car.
• Hanging parts: You may not know the different parts underneath your car, but if you see something hanging down and hear something rattling when driving, any number of components could be damaged.
• Loud engine noise and poor performance: If your engine is much louder than normal and your vehicle isn’t accelerating as fast as usual, your exhaust system may be damaged.
• Damaged axle rods: Your axle rods show multiple signs of damage, including sputtering, bumping, or clunking sounds, struggling to move forward, and the sensation that your vehicle is wobbling and vibrating.

Considering any one of these undercarriage issues could manifest as different noises, vibrations, or changes to your vehicle’s performance, it’s important to take your car to a professional to inspect and diagnose the problem.

How to Fix Damage to Your Undercarriage 

Now that we’ve examined a wide range of signs of undercarriage damage let’s discuss what can be done about them. In all cases, the safest approach to any type of undercarriage damage is to have an auto-repair professional examine it closely and advise on the best remedies.

With that said, if you have noticed any of the signs of undercarriage damage we’ve covered, the first thing to do is inspect the undercarriage for any clear, visible damage, like leaks or bent components. 

• Minor scratches or dents: You can apply a patch or sealant that is designed to help prevent rust from spreading.
• Bent parts: Specialized tools are available for straightening bent components. Even this cosmetic work should be done by a professional to avoid further damage to surrounding components.
• Structural repairs: Parts that need to be repaired but don’t have to be replaced may be remedied with welding. This should always be done by a professional welder in a controlled environment.
• Replacing parts: Always consult an auto-repair specialist to diagnose, repair, and replace components of the undercarriage.

When to Seek Professional Help for Undercarriage Damage

If you are involved in an accident, notice any performance changes after hitting a curb or deep pothole, or go over a steep bump in the road, you don’t want to ignore any signs of damage—no matter how minor. 

Even if your car seems to be driving normally, there’s no downside to having an auto-repair professional examine it, but ignoring the problem can be a costly mistake.

Visit CARSTAR for Professional Undercarriage Repair

Wondering if your undercarriage damage can be fixed? CARSTAR specializes in collision repair, including everything from minor dents and scratches to major accident damage like suspension work, alignment, and more. Get in touch with us today!

Don’t delay: Schedule an appointment at a CARSTAR location near you!