Before you buy
This 2006 Dodge Dakota has 283 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.
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2006 Dodge Dakota Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 8 2006 Dodge Dakota trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 8 trims analysed.
2006 Dodge Dakota Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2006 Dodge Dakota Extended CabOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
Not Rated17.9% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Not RatedSide Crash
Not RatedRollover
17.9% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2006 Dodge Dakota has 283 owner complaints, 22 crash-related complaints, and 6 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Airbag Malfunctions. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Dodge
- Model
- Dakota
- Model year
- 2006
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 283
- Crash-related complaints
- 22
- Safety recall campaigns
- 6
- Top reported component
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 15
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 13 / 18
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- No
Common problems
Most common 2006 Dodge Dakota problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Airbag Malfunctions
Steering Defects
Transmission / Drivetrain
Complaint patterns center on Airbag Malfunctions, Steering Defects, Transmission / Drivetrain. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Buyer verdict
Should you buy a used 2006 Dodge Dakota?
This DODGE DAKOTA year shows a meaningful number of reported issues, so buyers should only proceed after a careful records review and inspection.
Model-year complaint trends can reveal recurring trouble spots before you spend money on inspections, financing, or repairs.
May Suit
This year may suit buyers who prioritize complete maintenance records and pass a pre-purchase inspection.
May Want to Avoid
Buyers who want a lower-risk ownership profile may prefer comparing nearby model years before committing.
Pre-purchase
What to check before buying a used 2006 Dodge Dakota
Inspection Focus
- Inspect the most frequently reported complaint components on this model year
- Confirm recall repairs were completed and documented
- Check for accident damage, title brands, and mileage inconsistencies on the exact VIN
Before You Close the Deal
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Check the exact car
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2006 Dodge Dakota, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
AI verdict
What the complaint data suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
The DODGE DAKOTA has 283 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. 22 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Recall context: 6 recall campaigns are on record, so recall completion status should be confirmed on the exact VIN before purchase.
- 283 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 6 federal recall campaigns
- 22 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Full breakdown
All 2006 Dodge Dakota complaints by category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Dodge Dakota. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 125 | 17 | 3 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 47 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 36 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 30 | — | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 25 | 4 | 3 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 25 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 15 | 3 | 3 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | 4 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
In their words
Real owner complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Dodge Dakota. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while her son was at a complete stop at the red traffic light, the driver's side air bag deployed unexpectedly, and the driver noticed that there was white smoke and dark smoke coming from the air bag. There was no war…
I was going to work and the transmission started slipping when I had cruise control on, and then when I got to a stop light my truck started revving and wouldn't move. When i put it in neutral it wouldn't roll either. It just kept on revving and screeching. So i out back into dri…
The contact owned a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a no-fault head-on collision. The vehicle was damaged to the front of the vehicle and the driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was tow…
After driving on the interstate highway for a couple hours from Phoenix, Arizona I noticed that the left turn signal started malfunctioning, and the right signal flashed instead. After several hours of driving, noticed that sometimes the right signal only flashed 3 or 4 times wh…
The contact owned a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the brakes failed causing the contact to strike a curb and flatten the front passenger side tire, and damage the rim. No air bags deploy. The contact suffered injuries to the back, neck and suffere…
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, two weeks after the repair, the passenger’s side air bag warning light intermittently ill…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR RE…
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS ONLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
IT IS CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING THROWING OFF MORE CODES. PASSAGER AIRBAG ALSO KEEP TURNING OFF. ALSO WELL DRIVING THE CAR JERKS BACK?
MY 2006 DAKOTA FILLER TUBE SPITS THE GAS BACK OUT ONTO THE PAVEMENT WHEN TRYING TO REFUEL. IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME TO REFUEL AND I UNDERSTAND MANY CHRSYLER PRODUCTS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2005 DURANGO C OR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR TH…
PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS TURNED ON BUT DIDN'T DEPLOY, DID NOT HAVE SEATBELT ON BECAUSE IT BROKE BUT ALL OTHERS IN THE ACCIDENT HAD THEIRS ON. DRIVER WAS DRIVING NORMAL AND A TRUCK COMING OPPOSITE WAY HIT A TRUCK THREE TRUCK LENGTH AHEAD SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT OUR VEHICLE HEAD ON…
THIS ONE SIMPLE PART EFFECTS SO MUCH AND IT IS UNSAFE THAT THIS PART AFFECTS SO MUCH. YOU GUYS OFFER IT BUT ITS CLOSE TO 1400$. WHY IS IT SO MUCH? THIS WOULD BE VEHICLE NUMBER 2 WITHIN A YEAR OF EACH OTHER HAVING SOMETHING BAD GO WRONG IT MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT EFFECTS…
THE TRUCK HAS VERY LITTLE POWER PROVIDED DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THIS ONLY HAPPENS DURING WARM WEATHER. DURING THE COLDER MONTHS OF WINTER THE TRANSMISSION OPERATES NORMALLY. WITHOUT PROPER ACCELERATION IT POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM GETTING INTO TRAFFIC FROM …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V795000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLUTCH FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO N…
TOOK TRUCK IN FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RECALL, WHEN CHANGE OUT , TOLD ME I NEED A NEW ORC MODULE. THE PROBLEM IS MY AIRBAG LIGHT NEVER CAME ON UNTIL THEY CHANGE MY AIRBAG. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, IT WOULD BE MY COST.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL ON THE MORNING OF MAY 8, 2019. MY VEHICLE (WHICH SHE DRIVES ON A DAILY BASIS), 2006 DODGE DAKOTA, WAS STRUCK FORWARD OF THE FRONT WHEELS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A CHEVY TAHOE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A SIDE STREET ONTO A BUSY, 4 LANE DIVID…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH ASSEMBLY AND CABLE WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUF…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH AND CABLE ASSEMBLIES FOR EACH DOOR WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE ENGINE, THE KEY WOULD COME OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO TURN THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VE…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2006 Dodge Dakota.
Safety recalls
2006 Dodge Dakota recalls
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2006 Dodge Dakota. 6 recall campaigns are on record, so recall completion status should be confirmed on the exact VIN before purchase. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Questions
2006 Dodge Dakota buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2006 Dodge Dakota reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 283 owner complaints, 22 crash-related complaints, and 6 recall campaigns for this model year. This DODGE DAKOTA year shows a meaningful number of reported issues, so buyers should only proceed after a careful records review and inspection. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge Dakota?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (125 complaints). #2: Steering Defects (47 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (36 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Dodge Dakota?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2006 Dodge Dakota?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2006 Dodge Dakota, NHTSA complaints include 22 crash-related reports and 7 fire reports out of 283 total complaints. 16 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2006 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?▾
Yes. 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2006 Dodge Dakota. A major recall area is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. 6 recall campaigns are on record, so recall completion status should be confirmed on the exact VIN before purchase. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2006 Dodge Dakota?▾
This DODGE DAKOTA year shows a meaningful number of reported issues, so buyers should only proceed after a careful records review and inspection. Model-year complaint trends can reveal recurring trouble spots before you spend money on inspections, financing, or repairs. Pay extra attention to Airbag Malfunctions during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpectorAI.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Dakota reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2006 Dodge Dakota based on your ownership experience.
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Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Before you buy
Check the exact vehicle history before you buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.