I bought the iDrive because it offered a quick and simple approach to mounting a garage door opener. The design seemed ingenious...and it really is...but their implementation of the motor/gearbox is less than robust.
In just under a year, I've burned up two motors (under warranty) and 3 months ago they sent me a whole new unit under warranty and just today it burned up again. I'm lifting a standard 16' wide x 8' high insulated steel door...and it is properly balanced - so the opener isn't working harder than it has to.
The biggest issue is mostly just the electric motor. They allegedly came up with a new design for the electric motor...but when the going gets tough (cold weather) - this thing tucks its tail between its legs and runs away - even with the new motors.
Their customer support is only open from 8AM-5PM during the week (when you're at work...) and limited hours on Saturday - when you call them, you're put in a queue and you have to be standing at the garage door to give them numbers and then do some troubleshooting with them on the line.
Getting replacement parts requires you to go through a troubleshooting session (ensuring door is balanced by manually lifting to various heights and ensuring it doesn't lift/fall on its own...) with their CS folks...rightfully so - they want to be sure what the problem is. The problem is that every time the motor fails...you're without a garage door opener for a few weeks until the new motor arrives.
I'm estimating that over the last year, this unit has been down for a total of 3 months.
I had hoped this would work out, but now I want a refund - we'll see if they come through on this. It wasn't a cheap opener...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have the same problems. No worries in the summer but when the winter comes and the ground shifts .. it's no good! And I'm a tiny, little single woman who manages a home, job, school & kids - I don't feel like calling someone every year to adjust my garage door ... I didn't expect to have to worry about screwing with a garage door to adjust the tension every year when the ground shifts. To me, a garage door opener should just "work" once it's in. I never heard of this problem until I bought my iDrive. I'd like my money back too ... but they just say they'll replace the parts (not give me a better choice).
These things only belong down south. They do not work in the winter. I have 2 doors with them and one of them always stalls out about 1/4 to 1/2 way up. It is really being a pain. I probably need a new motor. It did not last very long.
I agree with the cold weather syndrome these motors have. They get powerless and keep stoppping the door half way up. My doors are brand new and perfectly balanced and countless times have had to open the door manually. I am thinking about junking these IDrives and putting in the old reliable kind. These openers only work in the summer!
agreed - I have same problem.. someone please start class-action suit on them for this and contact me at tim@ods2dds.com
I agree with all the complaints. I bought 2 at the same time. I've had nothing but problems with the opens. I would like to have someone give me money back and take these out of my garage. I work where these are sold at and they are discontinued. they need to be recalled. I have more money in paying people to try to fix them then I paid to have them
I had two motor burn up on my iDrive, over a two year period. Haven't had any issue except with the motor, which is an expensive part to have to replace about once a year. This will be my last Wayne Dalton product I purchase. I don't feel like the company address this issue when brought to their attention.
Sorry, no complaints from me. Works great summer and winter in eastern Washington, for the last 8 years!
I am a professional door dealer who pushed the Idrive hard, we are Wayne Dalton dealers, the company has always been on the cutting edge in the industry, we trusted them, We installed thousands and have replaced hundreds at our expence. The company was good about honoring warranty issues.
THEN THE OPENER DIVISION WENT TO A HOLDING COMPANY. This should tell where things will go from here. The red tape, the HANG UPS after sitting on hold, the run around, the 5 months we waited for warranty parts on back order...boy do i have stories! I will personally notify every person who purchased one from us and encourage them to join a Class Action Suit. Idrive has no reputation to uphold so they no longer care. The sooner they can frustrate folks into throwing away and replacing their machines the less calls they will get. Win - win for them.
I am also very willing to join a class action vs Wayne Dalton and their worthless iDrive openers. I'm in Wisconsin and have trouble with mine every stinking year...including this morning. It is stuck and not moving at all right now! Sign me up!
rmndlws@yahoo.com
I would also like to join a class action law suit. I live in Minnesota and have issues every winter. Please contact me so we can get these people for providing a poor product and now no warranty support. gmmathias@yahoo.com
PLEASE Add me to the class action suit - same problems especially winter time EVERY year. Replacement charges etc etc.
Reneeh12@aol.com THANKS !
Will not work in Michigan winters. I've sent a letter to them with complaint and threat to wait till class-action suit begins with no response, of course. Count me in on the suit... jjmichon@comcast.net
I have gone thru 4 I drives from Wayne Dalton in 11 years..The last one lasted 4 years and 3 months but it is dead again.. almost broke the door when the lock piece came between the door and the top of the garage door. Just make gratin noised now.
where do I sign up for the class action suite? cschuh@aol.com
We have 4 of these doors, they have been nothing but trouble since we purchased them, all 4 of them. Weather has never made a bit of difference. Now we only have 2 of the 4 functioning. Our door technicians who installed them have come out repeatedly to take care of the issues to no avail. They have told us that they can no longer service the idrive due to the company no longer providing parts or solutions, so now we either have to continue to operate the doors in manual position like we've been doing or decide to purchase 4 new openers. This is really very unfortunate and rather frustrating. We built our home 5 years ago and these doors were installed in the new build. Probably hands down the biggest mistake we ever made in building the home was installing this product.
I have a situation that will cause me to replace my iDrive motor, when under normal circumstances a reputable company would stand behind their product and replaced at no charge. That won't happen, of course, now that they are playing a shell game with corporate assets. I would join in a class action lawsuit.
I also purchased the idrive openers 2 of them and had the same problems as everybody else . winter hasnt been a big problem for me, just motor issues allready replaced both motors a consumer shouldnt have to deal with this issue so soon.very dissatisfied with the i-drive.sign me up too a class action law suit is in order.mstine@embarqmail.com
I have already replaced one iDrive at a cost of $870. Now the third single bay door is shot and I am told I will need another $870 iDrive replacement! Doesn't matter that the door is half the size of first double bay door, it's the torsion bar that also needs to be replaced. So mad I could scream. Called Wayne Dalton. Told to call Home Run Holdings. Called, sent emails, got nothing. Is there a class action lawsuit out there. I want to join. In good faith, I invested a lot of money in something that had a lifetime warranty. But it's not worth the paper it's printed on.
Same complaints as above. Please post if/when a class action suit is filed.
Two openers installed at the same time. 12 years and no problems with one. Nothing but problems with the other. Same winter problems, and now doesn't always respond to rf signal. Can't find a replacemet board any where. Sign me up for the suit!
I also have the Idrive. I contacted the company several times over the years to get replacement parts since it dies about every year or two. It is dead again and I can no longer find a number to call to get replacement parts. If there is a law suite Let me know and I will join.
Same issue fighting with it for years.
Wayne Dalton split the company and of course closed down the company careening lifetime waranty.
Somebody should go to jail for this, this is fraud.