YearToAvoid

2006 Dodge Dakota Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2006 Dodge Dakota ranks 2nd worst of 7 model years, with a Complaint Index of 83 and 285 NHTSA complaints, mostly airbag non-deployment. It carries 5 recalls, two of them do-not-drive airbag campaigns, and NHTSA rates it Avoid relative to other Dakota years.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
83/100
#2 of 7 Dakota years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
285
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
2 Do Not Drive
Crashes
23
reported in complaints
Fires
7
Injuries
17
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2009
lowest-risk (no Good/Best year)
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 19 hwy
Injuries / deaths
17 / 1

Top 2006 Dodge Dakota problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags126 (44%)
  2. Steering47 (16%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain36 (13%)
  4. Electrical System33 (12%)
  5. Brakes28 (10%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (9%)
  7. Engine18 (6%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers15 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body13 (5%)
  10. Fuel System9 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy in frontal and rear-end crashes at speeds around 40 to 45 mph, sometimes with serious occupant injuries.
  • Brakes reportedly fail or lose stopping power suddenly, with one owner describing a fizzing noise before the vehicle spun out and caught fire.
  • Seat belts fail to restrain occupants properly during crashes, contributing to head and rib injuries.
  • Transmission fluid has been reported leaking and igniting a small fire under the vehicle while driving.
  • One owner reported the rear axle broke off at highway speed, causing a crash into a wall.
2006 Dodge Dakota complaints: complaints filed per quarter222006 Q22008 Q22010 Q22012 Q22014 Q32016 Q32018 Q42023 Q2
285 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q4 (22).

2006 Dodge Dakota recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 14V795000Dec 16, 2014Electrical System54,164 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition:switch

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Dakota, and 2006 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006 with manual transmissions. The return springs in the clutch ignition interlock switch may break.

    Risk: Broken springs can result in a no-start condition, or cause unintended movement when the ignition is cranked, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clutch ignition interlock switch, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P80.

See all 5 recalls for the 2006 Dodge Dakota →

2006 Dodge Dakota fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
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 Dakota years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005200620072008200920102011
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid1004706 !15
2006Avoid832855 !15
2007Caution671444 !15
2008Caution50912 !15

All Dodge Dakota years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Dakota ranks 2nd worst among 7 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 83 and an Avoid verdict relative to other Dakota years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2006 Dodge Dakota?
Airbags are the top complaint area, making up 44% of complaints (126 of 285), including reports of non-deployment in crashes at highway speeds.
Does the 2006 Dodge Dakota have a recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2006 Dakota, including two do-not-drive airbag campaigns plus recalls covering brakes, electrical clutch interlock switches, and visibility/wiper systems.
How does the 2006 Dakota compare to other years?
The 2005 Dakota has a higher Complaint Index of 100 and is also rated Avoid, while 2007 through 2011 all score lower (17 to 67) and carry a Caution verdict instead.
At what mileage do 2006 Dakota problems usually appear?
Airbag-related complaints show a median mileage of 75,161.5 miles, while brake complaints show a median of 52,400 miles, according to NHTSA data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.