A traffic collision is a jarring incident that can affect your car’s performance, even well after the initial repairs. While your vehicle may look fine following a minor accident, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t sustained frame damage. Here, review common signs of frame damage, all of which call for auto body shop services.

How to Tell if Your Car Has Sustained Frame Damage

1. Wheel Misalignment

A bent frame causes alignment problems such as pulling to one side when you drive and handling issues, including a vibrating steering wheel. Wheel misalignments create safety hazards because you do not have full control over your vehicle, while also causing tires to wear unevenly. Thinning rubber from uneven wear increases the risk of tire blowouts in addition to premature, expensive replacements. If you experience tire wear and handling problems following an accident, the frame has been damaged.

2. Tilting or Leaning

Your vehicle should appear straight and in line when you park on a flat surface. Should it lean to the left or the right despite sitting on even ground, the chassis or suspension has become twisted or bent, which throws the vehicle’s entire foundation off. Tilting or leaning can also occur because of poorly inflated tires or stuck shock absorbers, coil springs, and struts. If the shocks, struts, and springs remain stuck, your car will move up and down incorrectly over different terrain when you drive.

3. Stuck Doors

Car doors should not present opening and closing difficulties that affect your vehicle’s safety and security. The doors may also rub or bump against the car when there’s frame damage present, or create uneven gaps when you close them. The hood and trunk may feature uneven gaps if their latches were damaged, meaning either could fly up when you drive, causing shock and creating visibility problems without auto body shop services. An open trunk can also attract thieves who might take whatever the storage space contains, such as a spare tire or emergency kit components. 

If you suspect frame damage, schedule your service with Mark’s Auto Body. The auto body shop has served drivers throughout Cincinnati, OH, and the surrounding areas for over 25 years, and features a team of highly trained auto body technicians specializing in collision repairs. Call (513) 731-4273 today to make an appointment or visit the auto body shop online for service details, including free loaner vehicles.