Who This Helps: Drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and anyone who uses NYC roads — especially residents of Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island dealing with dangerous street conditions this spring.
The Numbers Are In: NYC’s Pothole Problem Is Worse Than Last Year
If your car has been rattling over craters lately, you are not imagining things. New York City has recorded more than 11,300 pothole complaints through 311 so far in 2026, a roughly 33 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to data reported by NY1 and city records. The surge follows one of the harshest winters in recent memory, which left roads across all five boroughs cracked and crumbling as freeze-thaw cycles took their toll.
The pattern is familiar to anyone who has lived through a New York spring: water seeps into small cracks, freezes and expands overnight, then thaws during the day. Repeat that cycle dozens of times over a brutal winter, and roads start falling apart. But this year, the scale is notable.
Borough-by-Borough Breakdown
Queens is bearing the brunt of the damage. The borough has logged over 7,000 pothole complaints since January 1 — approximately 45 percent of the entire citywide total, according to reporting from Hoodline. The worst-hit roads include Northern Boulevard (more than 100 individual complaints), Rockaway Boulevard (76 complaints), and Union Turnpike (66 complaints).
Brooklyn follows with just over 2,000 complaints, concentrated along major corridors in southern Brooklyn and Flatbush.
Staten Island has reported roughly 1,500 complaints, an outsized number relative to its population, reflecting the borough’s heavy reliance on car travel and aging road infrastructure.
Manhattan and the Bronx round out the list with approximately 1,400 and 1,200 complaints respectively.
What the City Is Doing About It
The NYC Department of Transportation launched what it calls a “pothole blitz” in March 2026, deploying additional crews across all five boroughs. DOT reports that crews have already filled more than 45,000 potholes this year, including 10,000 in a single week during the height of the blitz, according to NY1.
DOT has also scheduled weekend repair sessions in the hardest-hit areas of Queens and Brooklyn. Drivers should expect some traffic delays during these repair operations but should see improved road conditions in the weeks ahead.
How to Take Action
Report a pothole through 311: You can file a complaint online at portal.311.nyc.gov, by calling 311, or by using the NYC 311 app (available free on iOS and Android). Select “Pothole or Cave-In on Street” as your complaint type.
What to include in your report: Provide the exact address or cross streets, the lane (driving lane, parking lane, or crosswalk), and an estimate of the pothole size. Photos help DOT prioritize repairs.
Track your complaint: Every 311 report generates a service request number. You can use this to check the status of your complaint at portal.311.nyc.gov or through the app. NYC DOT is required to fill reported potholes within 30 days of inspection.
Damaged your car? If a pothole caused vehicle damage, you can file a claim with the NYC Comptroller’s Office at comptroller.nyc.gov. You will need photos of the pothole and the damage, a repair estimate or receipt, and proof that the city had prior notice of the pothole. Claims must be filed within 90 days of the incident. You can file electronically through the eClaim system for faster processing.
Check NYC Open Data: For data enthusiasts and community board members, the full dataset of 311 service requests — including pothole complaints — is available at data.cityofnewyork.us. You can filter by borough, neighborhood, date, and complaint type.
Rat Complaints Update: Containerization Is Working
While potholes dominate the spring 311 landscape, there is encouraging news on another perennial New York challenge: rats. The city’s containerization program — which requires all NYC businesses to place trash in secure bins rather than leaving bags on the sidewalk — has contributed to a sustained decrease in rat sightings citywide.
According to NYC Department of Sanitation data, rat sightings continued a decline through 2025, with a 6.4 percent decrease citywide and a 14.3 percent decrease in the city’s designated Rat Mitigation Zones. The city’s Rat Walks program is set to return in spring 2026, with city inspectors walking designated routes in high-activity areas to identify and address conditions that attract rodents.
If you are seeing rats near your home or business, file a “Rat or Mouse Complaint” through 311 at portal.311.nyc.gov.
What’s Next
The pothole surge typically peaks in late March through mid-April as warming temperatures fully expose winter damage. If you have not already reported the potholes on your block, now is the time. The more complaints DOT receives about a specific location, the faster it moves up the repair queue.
For more on navigating NYC’s 311 system and getting results, read our complete 311 Complaint Decoder guide.
