Garage Door Off Track? What Causes It and What to Do

Common causes

• The door got hit — by a car backing out, or by the door closing on something.
• A cable snapped or slipped, so one side lifted and the other did not.
• A spring broke, throwing the door off balance.
• Worn rollers or a bent track let a roller pop out.
• Loose track brackets let the track shift away from the door.

What to do right now

1. Stop using the opener and unplug it. Running it against a jammed door bends panels and tracks and can damage the opener.
2. Keep everyone away from the door — it may be held up by only one side.
3. Do not try to force it back onto the track, and do not pull the emergency release cord if the door is partly open. If a cable or spring has failed, the door can fall once it is released.
4. Call for a repair, and mention if a car is trapped inside.

Why it is not a DIY fix

Getting a door back on track safely means taking the tension off the system first, which involves the springs and cables. Those are the parts that hurt people. The fix itself is usually straightforward for a technician: release the tension safely, realign or replace the damaged track or rollers, re-hang the cables, and re-balance the door.

How to prevent it

• Keep the floor under the door clear so it never closes on anything.
• Replace worn rollers before they fail.
• Have the cables and track brackets checked during regular maintenance.

Every repair with us starts with a free 25-point inspection, and you get one price in writing before any work begins.

Related services

• Off-Track Door Reset
• Complex Off-Track Door Repair
• Garage Door Cable Replacement
• 24/7 Emergency Garage Door Service

More from the blog

• Garage Door Spring Broke? What to Do — and What Not to Touch
• Garage Door Won't Close? 5 Things to Check, Safest First
• Why Is My Garage Door So Loud?