The old concrete may not have been sound
Repair material needs a sound perimeter and enough depth for the product and use. Feather-edge cosmetic patches often release because there is not enough prepared surface or thickness.
Concrete damage can extend farther than the visible surface. Additional unsound concrete may require a written change order if it was not included in the approved scope.
Water and movement can keep attacking the repair
Active ponding, failed joints, exposed steel, post penetrations, or movement can undermine a patch even when the material was placed correctly.
A stronger repair often includes better preparation, practical life-extension details, and water-management or finish-integration work where feasible.
The customer question
The question is why the previous patch failed and whether a new repair can address the condition that defeated the first one.
Visible and contributing conditions
Look for feathered edges, debonded material, cracks around the patch, rust staining, trapped water, coating failure, hollow sound, soft surrounding concrete, or patch material placed over dirt, paint, sealant, or loose concrete.
Possible contributing conditions include poor preparation, inadequate depth, active water, corrosion, movement, wrong finish expectation, vehicle loading, or hidden unsound concrete beyond the visible patch.
Repair path, related trades, and photos
A better repair path may require removing more unsound concrete, preparing a stronger edge, addressing water entry, cleaning embedded metal, adjusting joint or sealant details, or choosing replacement instead of another surface patch.
Send photos before removing anything, close-ups of the failed patch edge, a tape-measure photo, water or drain context, and photos showing how the area is used. A site evaluation is appropriate when failures repeat, metal is exposed, water is active, or several locations are involved.
Practical conclusion
A failed patch is useful information. It does not prove concrete cannot be repaired, but it does mean the next scope should address preparation, water, movement, edges, and expectations more carefully.