Off-Track Garage Door: Causes, Safety and What to Do

A garage door that has slipped out of its tracks hangs crooked, jams partway or makes grinding noises. It’s one of the more dangerous garage door problems, because the door can fall. Here’s what causes it and what to do.

Common causes

• Broken cable or spring. When one side loses its lift, the door tilts and the rollers pop out.
• Worn or broken rollers. Old rollers can crack or seize and jump the track.
• Bent or loose tracks. Loose brackets or a dent in the track can stop the rollers.
• Impact. Backing into a door, even lightly, can bend tracks or panels.
• An obstruction. Something in the track can force a roller out.

What to do right away

1. Stop using the opener. Running it again can bend the door further.
2. Unplug the opener if you can do so safely.
3. Keep people, pets and cars away from the door.
4. Don’t try to push the door back into the tracks or release the springs.
5. Call a technician.

What the repair involves

A technician secures the door, releases tension safely, replaces any broken cables, springs or rollers, straightens or replaces bent track sections, refits the door in its tracks, then balances and tests the door and the opener’s safety settings.

Preventing it

Replace worn rollers, keep tracks clear and tight, and have springs and cables checked during routine maintenance.

PLL Garage Doors and Gates repairs off-track doors across Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange Counties. See garage door repair or call (866) 219-6211, answered 24/7. We stand behind our work with a warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Can I push an off-track garage door back myself?

It isn’t recommended. An off-track door can fall, and the springs and cables are under high tension. Leave it in place and call a technician.

What causes a door to come off track?

The most common causes are a broken cable or spring, worn rollers, bent or loose tracks, or the door being hit by a car.

Do you offer emergency service for off-track doors?

Yes. PLL Garage Doors and Gates answers its emergency line 24/7 at (866) 219-6211.