Step 1 — Get Off the Road If You Can
If your engine is still running or the car is still rolling, try to exit the highway. The next exit is always safer than the shoulder. If you cannot make it to an exit, pull as far right as possible onto the shoulder. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If it is dark or low visibility, turn on your interior dome light so other drivers can see someone is in the vehicle. Do not attempt to cross lanes of traffic on foot — people die every year on I-90 trying to walk across lanes. Stay in your car with your seatbelt on.
Step 2 — Call for Help
Call 911 if you feel unsafe or if your car is blocking traffic. Ohio State Highway Patrol monitors I-90 and can dispatch help. For non-emergency breakdowns, call your roadside assistance provider — AAA, your insurance company app, or your car manufacturer's roadside line. If you do not have roadside assistance, call a trusted shop like Nick's Tire and Auto at (216) 862-0005 — we can recommend a reliable tow company we work with regularly. Our shop at 17625 Euclid Ave is right off I-90 at the E 185th Street exit, so tow distance is short and cheap from most spots on the east side.
Need cleveland's local mechanic? Read the rest later.
Free written estimate. 12-month warranty. $10-down financing. Walk-ins welcome 7 days.
Step 3 — Watch Out for Predatory Tow Trucks
This is a real problem on Cleveland highways. Unlicensed tow trucks patrol I-90, I-77, and I-480 looking for stranded drivers. They show up uninvited, hook your car before you agree to anything, and then hit you with a $300 to $500 bill at some random lot. Know your rights: in Ohio, a tow truck cannot hook your vehicle without your consent unless law enforcement ordered the tow. Get the driver's name, company name, and price in writing before they touch your car. If a tow truck shows up and you did not call them, you can decline. Wait for the one you called.
Common Reasons Cars Break Down on I-90
Most highway breakdowns come down to a few things. Overheating — especially in summer when you are sitting in traffic near the Shoreway or downtown merge. Running out of gas — the stretch between E 185th and downtown has no gas stations right off the highway. Tire blowouts — Cleveland potholes and highway debris shred tires, especially worn ones. Belt failure — a serpentine belt snap kills your power steering, alternator, and AC all at once. Battery or alternator failure — the car slowly loses electrical power and dies. Most of these are preventable with regular maintenance. A $49 [diagnostic check](/diagnostics) catches problems before they leave you stranded.
Get Your Car to Nick's After the Tow
Tell your tow driver to bring the car to Nick's Tire and Auto at 17625 Euclid Ave, Euclid, OH 44112. We are open 7 days a week and handle everything from [tire blowouts](/tires) to [engine diagnostics](/diagnostics) to [full mechanical repair](/general-repair). If you break down after hours, the tow truck can drop the car in our lot and we will get to it first thing in the morning. Call (216) 862-0005 to let us know it is coming. We figure out the problem, give you an honest estimate, and get you back on I-90 — this time with a car that works.
RELATED SERVICES
Bring it in. We'll show you the problem before we fix it.
Free written estimate before any work. 12-month warranty on parts and labor. Free Uber within 5 miles if you drop off. Walk-ins welcome 7 days a week.
- 12-mo / 12,000-mi warranty
- $10-down financing available
- Most repairs same/next day
- Text updates throughout
