2006 Dodge DAKOTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
285 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 161 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 122 of 285 complaints (42.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 42 | 14.7% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 11.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 7.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 122 |
| Steering | 44 |
| Electrical System | 29 |
| Power Train | 26 |
| Suspension | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
Air Bags: 122; Steering: 44; Electrical System: 29; Power Train: 26; Suspension: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Service Brakes: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 28 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 124 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 54 |
| 2016 | 50 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2006: 12; 2007: 10; 2008: 12; 2009: 10; 2010: 21; 2011: 10; 2012: 14; 2013: 10; 2014: 19; 2015: 54; 2016: 50; 2017: 33; 2018: 5; 2019: 12; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10171798 · 2006-10-25 (October 25, 2006)
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2006 DODGE DAKOTA IN AUGUST. AFTER TEST DRIVING SEVERAL MODELS WE ORDERED ONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WE WERE NOT TOLD THAT WE WERE TEST DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH TILT WHEEL. SO THE VEHICLE WE RECEIVED HAD NO TILT WHEEL, WHICH WOULD BE FINE IF YOU COULD SEE THE SPEEDOMETER WHEN THE SPEED IS 50 TO 70 MPH. THE DRIVERS ARE 5'6" AND 6' TALL. THE 6' TALL PERSON HAS THE SEAT BACK AS FAR AS THE LEGS WILL ALLOW AND HAS THE SEAT TILTED BACK. THE 5'6' PERSON IS UNABLE TO SIT UP STRAIGHT IN THE SEAT AND SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. UPON CALLIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200251 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNCORRECTABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 09/11/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157231 · 2006-05-11 (May 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A PARKING SPACE AT 5MPH, BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ALERTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,876 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158568 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176547 · 2006-12-19 (December 19, 2006)
TL* - THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HIS TRUCK. THEN CONTACT PULLED OVER AT WHICH TIME HE NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING WHICH CREATED THE SMOKE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THEY FOUND A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE CAR. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE WILL RETAIN A COPY OF THE REPORT ONCE IT IS RECEIVED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT KNOW ONE HAS HELPED HIM. THE DEALER (AUTO WEST DODGE) AT ROSEVILLE CA, TOLD HIM THE THEY CAN NOT REPAIR THE CAR UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213641 · 2008-01-03 (January 3, 2008)
ENGINE WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO PURCHASE TRUCK WAS SOLD AS NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NOT DISCLOSED, CONTINUING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT 8800 MILES, VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION ON FREEWAY, MULTIPLE EXHAUST LEAKS, HUB FAN REPLACED. WHEN A PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT TO BE "NORMAL". DEALER PRINCIPLE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS ISSUES. I CONTINUE TO HEAR NOISES AND HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANY WORK ON THE VEHICLE UNLESS I GO WHEN ITS CONVIENT FOR THE "TECHNICIAN" TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365500 · 2010-11-12 (November 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB SLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFORMATION SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WOULD DISPLAY IMPROPER MILES TO GALLON READINGS AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPASS WOULD ALSO INDICATE INCORRECT DIRECTIONAL READINGS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BURN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10703515 · 2015-04-03 (April 3, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V795000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10703515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162729 · 2006-07-18 (July 18, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES WHO INDICATED THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT A REMEDY TO THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME STALLING PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 6,191 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169228 · 2006-09-25 (September 25, 2006)
MY RELATIVELY NEW (4000K) 2006 QUAD CAB DODGE DAKOTA KEEPS STALLING WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. DURING ONE OF THESE EVENTS, I WAS ON A HILL AND APPROACHED A STOP SIGN WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WAS THEN IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK AND ALMOST IMPACT THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND WHERE SEVERAL CARS BEHIND ME STARTED TO MOVE IN ANTICIPATION OF MY VEHICLE MOVING AND ALMOST HIT MY CAR. NOT RISKING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP. …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172455 · 2006-11-02 (November 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ONLY ONE GALLON OF GAS WOULD FLOW INTO THE GAS TANK AT A TIME. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE TANK, GASOLINE BACKED UP OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT 10 TO 12 INCHES OF THE VENT HOSE WAS MELTED. THE PARTS WERE ORDERED. UPDATED 11/30/06.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10659603 · 2014-11-20 (November 20, 2014)
PROBLEM WHEN REFILLING THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE TANK GETS FULL, FUEL SPRAYS OUT OF THE GAS TANK FILL PORT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS FAULTY EQUIPMENT AT THE GAS STATION BUT IT HAS HAPPENED CONSECUTIVE TIMES AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS. PROBABLY SPRAYS OUT 8 OR 12 OUNCES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659603 at NHTSA ↗