Most garage door openers last about 10 to 15 years, according to Genie. How long yours lasts depends on how often the door runs and on the door itself: a door that is out of balance or binding makes the opener work harder. Smart features add convenience, not years.
The parts that wear:
The drive gear and the trolley. The gear inside the motor unit and the trolley that connects the rail to the door are common wear parts, and both can be replaced without a new opener.
The logic board. The circuit board that runs the opener can fail with age or after a power surge. A surge protector on the opener outlet helps.
Safety sensors and their wiring. Photo eyes that are out of line or have failed make the door reverse or refuse to close. The sensor troubleshooting guide covers the checks you can do yourself.
Remotes, keypad and wall button. Dead batteries, a stuck button or damaged wall-button wiring can look like a failing opener, and each can be fixed on its own.
Those are the repairs listed under garage door opener repair.
Signs your opener is near end-of-life:
Increasing operating noise that lubrication doesn't fix.
Slower travel speed compared to original installation.
Intermittent failure to respond to remotes (after replacing batteries).
Auto-reverse force that needs frequent recalibration.
Wi-Fi disconnections that don't resolve on router restart.
When to repair vs replace:
Repair makes sense when one part fails on an opener that otherwise runs well. Opener repair runs $195 to $450, against $574 to $1,229 for a new opener installed.
Replacement makes more sense when the opener is near the end of that 10 to 15 year range and more than one part is wearing, or when it lacks something you want, such as battery backup or phone control.
Upgrade timing: if you're planning a new garage door, price the opener at the same time so both go in on one visit.
Brand: compare models rather than brands, and check the motor and parts warranty on each; the Genie vs LiftMaster comparison lists several. Schedule opener installation if it's time.