2006 Dodge Ram problems & reliability
25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Dodge Ram. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2006 Dodge Ram vehicles were involved in 219 fatal crashes with 113 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 24% |
| Steering | 4 | 16% |
| Air Bags | 3 | 12% |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 12% |
| Suspension | 3 | 12% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 12% |
| Visibility | 3 | 12% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 8% |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 8% |
| Child Seat | 1 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 36,470 miles (middle 50% between 20,000 and 100,660 miles), based on 21 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags), the airbag warning light remained illuminated after starting the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that whenever the airbag light was illuminated, there were other…”
Electrical System · filed Aug 5, 2022
“The contact owns 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while having the vehicle serviced by a local dealer, the fuel pump was found to be cracked and leaking fuel. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the fuel pump…”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Mar 7, 2022
“The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the vehicle was hauling a trailer while driving at 65 mph when a loud bang was heard and the steering wheel went in circles, which led the vehicle from the center lane into the median and hit the guard rail. The rear driver's side corner of the vehicle was…”
Steering · filed Jun 1, 2021
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
26 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2006 Dodge Ram. The 10 most recent:
Dodge: electronic fuel control actuator (fca) available for service/new diagnostics available for dtc p0251. Engine surges at idle or mil illumination. Further investigation may identify dtc p0251-cp3 pump regulator…
SB-14-001-10 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 2, 2010
Positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) system freezes in extreme cold ambient temperatures -- involves installing revised pcv system components. *nj
2500108 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 8, 2008
Engine off-idle speed limit feature to protect turbocharger when vehicle is not moving. *kb
1803007 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 26, 2007
Trailer towing mirror - new mirror glass locking tab - new removal procedure. *kb
2301307 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 2007
Improved hill climb capability in reverse or dtc's p1713 / p1776. *kb
2100507 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 20, 2007
When braking the vehicle may drift to one side or exhibit a body shudder. *kb
0200107 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 20, 2007
Flash 42rle - improved hill climb capability in reverse or diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) p1713/p1776. *kb
2100206 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 9, 2006
5.9l dtc p0191 - fuel pressure sensor rationality. Erase and reprogram the powertrain control module (pcm) with new software. *kb
1803206 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 2, 2006
Cracked windshield due to being hit by a foreign object like a stone. *kb
2304706 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 21, 2006
AXLE FLUID LEVEL. *KB
0300306 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 20, 2006
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 2006 Dodge Ram in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2006 Dodge Ram?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 36,470 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.