ORLANDO, Fla. — Potholes on U.S. roadways have become a $3 billion problem for vehicle owners, a new from AAA study found.

The average bill for a pothole-related repair was $300, with the study showing that vehicle owners whose vehicle sustained pothole-related damage had it happen more than once — an average of three times in the last five years.

“In the last five years, 16 million drivers across the country have suffered pothole damage to their vehicles,” said John Nielson, AAA’s managing director of automotive engineering and repair. “The problems range from tire punctures and bent wheels, to more expensive suspension damage.”

According to the study, about two thirds of Americans are concerned about potholes on local roadways. Of those surveyed, AAA found that middle- and lower-income individuals — households with annual incomes of less than $75,000 — are the most worried about potholes.

In order to significantly improve the nation’s roads and bridges, Congress would need to allocate $170 billion in addition to the increased funding earmarked for infrastructure improvements in 2015.