A pothole that returns in the same spot means the last repair didn't deal with whatever is happening at that location, but the symptom alone doesn't tell you which cause it is. A recurring failure can come from a surface patch placed over a weak base, water that keeps reaching the base through cracks or from poor drainage, heavy or turning traffic concentrated on that spot, or pavement around the patch that is failing too. Often more than one is involved, so the useful first step is to look at the repair history and the surroundings before choosing the next repair.
Start with the history. When was the area last patched, by which method, and how large was the repair compared with the damaged area around it? A cold patch that failed after a winter is behaving the way a temporary repair is expected to. A saw-cut hot-mix patch that failed quickly points toward something under or around it.
Then look at where the pothole sits. Is it in a low spot, near a catch basin or downspout, along a curb line, or where runoff crosses the lot? If water collects or flows there, the drainage and grading may need attention along with the pavement. Is it in a drive lane, at an entrance, near a dumpster pad, or where delivery trucks turn? Concentrated loads can break down a repair that would hold elsewhere.
Finally, be clear about the objective. A temporary repair that keeps a lane safe until a longer-term fix can be scheduled is a legitimate choice, as long as everyone understands it is temporary. A longer-term repair usually means cutting back to sound pavement, correcting the base, and dealing with the water source. If the pavement around the pothole is cracked or failing as well, a larger repair area may be the better scope.
If you have a recurring failure area, request an assessment. Photos like the ones below help an estimator understand the area before visiting, though photos can't show what the base is doing, so the final scope still depends on what is found on site.
