2006 Dodge Charger Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2006 Dodge Charger has a complaint index of 94, the second-worst of 19 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Owners most often report Fuel System (40%) and Engine (37%) problems, plus 5 recalls including 2 do-not-drive airbag campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 94/100
- #2 of 19 Charger years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 1,294
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 21
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 12
- Injuries
- 28
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 28 / 2
Top 2006 Dodge Charger problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System516 (40%)
- Engine480 (37%)
- Transmission & Powertrain218 (17%)
- Electrical System153 (12%)
- Brakes139 (11%)
- Airbags103 (8%)
- Steering89 (7%)
- Other56 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires43 (3%)
- Structure & Body8 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners describe fires starting under the hood with smoke and flames coming from the engine bay or headlight wiring area.
- Several complaints describe brakes failing to stop the vehicle, including one where the pedal went to the floor and led to a rear-end crash.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including a rear-end collision at highway speed and a skid caused by locked brakes.
- Owners report electrical failures such as burned wires in the fuse box, inoperable turn signals, and a battery that reportedly exploded.
- One owner described a tire separating from the wheel during a low-speed turn, causing the vehicle to leave the road.
2006 Dodge Charger recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V352000May 24, 2016Airbags4,648,270 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
- NHTSA 15V313000May 26, 2015Airbags4,077,169 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.
- NHTSA 08V583000Nov 6, 2008Transmission & Powertrain20,283 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Chrysler is recalling 20,283 my 2006-2009 charger and magnum vehicles built with the police package and equipped with a column shifter. The gearshift cable may become disengaged from the steering column mounting bracket and cause an incorrect transmission gearshift position display.
Risk: This could allow the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction startling the driver, and cause a crash without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will add a redundant locking mechanism to the gearshift cable at the mounting bracket to ensure proper retention and shift linkage function. The recall began on november 10, 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
2006 Dodge Charger fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,425
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Charger years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Dodge Charger reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Charger ranks second-worst among 19 model years, with a complaint index of 94 and an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge Charger?
- NHTSA data shows Fuel System complaints make up 40% of reports and Engine complaints make up 37%, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 17% and Electrical System at 12%.
- Does the 2006 Dodge Charger have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2006 Charger, including 2 do-not-drive airbag recalls covering Takata inflators, plus recalls for the transmission gearshift cable and brakes.
- How does the 2006 Charger compare to other model years?
- The 2006 Charger's complaint index of 94 is worse than most other years; only the 2011 Charger scores higher at 100. Later years like 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023 earn Best verdicts with much lower complaint indexes.
- What mileage do 2006 Charger problems typically show up at?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 80,695 miles overall, with Fuel System issues appearing around 81,000 miles and Brakes issues appearing much earlier, around 16,234 miles.