LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of Southwest Florida drivers reached out to ABC7 on social media about massive potholes resulting in big damage to their cars.

Many drivers said the roadways were becoming an obstacle course to try and avoid the massive craters.   

The pothole that seemed to draw the most concern was located near U.S. 41 in the westbound lanes of Hancock Bridge.

It measured 12 feet long and nearly four feet wide and was causing serious concern for drivers like Donna Bach of North Fort Myers.

“I’ve hit it many times. Last week I hit it with my sports car, and I thought I was going to lose a tire. I thought something happened to the car,” Bach recalled.

ABC7 spotted dozens of drivers unable to avoid this massive pothole Bach was describing.

“There are a lot of potholes around here that need to be fixed,” she said.

Another pothole near the Grace Church along Hancock Bridge was filled with water and measured about 8 inches deep, and they can do real damage to cars.

Chris Capron of Lehigh Acres said his wife hit a couple of potholes, and it ended up costing the couple about $1,000 in repairs.

Busted hubcaps and even an entire exhaust system are littering the roadway near the potholes.

 “With all the traffic, you can’t just swing and hit somebody else’s car… you just have to hit the hole,” Matt Migliazzo said.

He was hauling a huge boat and avoided potholes at all costs.

“Potholes can be a problem. They can break the axels and break the U-bolts,” Migliazzo said.

Something many mechanics are seeing more of.

“Usually, at the minimum, you knock out the steering. The alignment would come out, and the car would tend to drift on the road,” Mechanic Bill Marino explained.

Marino works for Terry Wynter Auto Repairs and said the damages can be expensive.

“You could go anywhere from $150 if you needed a tire or $1,000 if you damage the suspension of the vehicle,” Marino said.

Drivers are urging road crews to make the needed repairs before someone is seriously injured or even killed.

If you see a pothole in your neighborhood, you can report it to the city, county, or state.