2006 Dodge RAM 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
792 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
61,152 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 569 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 186 of 792 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 90 | 11.4% |
| Steering behavior | 86 | 10.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 31 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 2.0% |
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 | 186 |
| Electrical System | 118 |
| Exterior Lighting | 114 |
| Steering | 78 |
| Power Train | 63 |
| Suspension | 59 |
| Engine | 33 |
| Visibility | 33 |
Air Bags: 186; Electrical System: 118; Exterior Lighting: 114; Steering: 78; Power Train: 63; Suspension: 59; Engine: 33; Visibility: 33
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 87 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 129 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 117 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 91 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 92 |
| 150,000 and above | 53 |
Under 25,000: 87; 25,000 to 49,999: 129; 50,000 to 74,999: 117; 75,000 to 99,999: 91; 100,000 to 149,999: 92; 150,000 and above: 53
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (129). 223 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 | 21 |
| 2007 | 42 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2010 | 102 |
| 2011 | 104 |
| 2012 | 30 |
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2014 | 58 |
| 2015 | 121 |
| 2016 | 100 |
| 2017 | 42 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2006: 21; 2007: 42; 2008: 22; 2009: 35; 2010: 102; 2011: 104; 2012: 30; 2013: 32; 2014: 58; 2015: 121; 2016: 100; 2017: 42; 2018: 27; 2019: 19; 2020: 12; 2021: 4; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 90 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 86 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 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 10165013 · 2006-08-09 (August 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE REAR LEFT SAFETY BELT TIGHTENED SO TIGHTLY THAT THE PASSENGER WAS CHOKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED COMPLETELY UPON STARTING AND REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT RESTARTED AFTER 45 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170091 · 2006-10-06 (October 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING ACROSS TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED WITH A RETAINING WALL. ALSO, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS AND SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183070 · 2007-02-20 (February 20, 2007)
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON FEB 11 AT 7:00 AM. I WENT OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT TAKING OUT A MAILBOX, A COUPLE OF TREES, SIDE SWIPED A TELEPHONE POLE BEFORE COMING TO REST UP AGAINST A TREE. WHEN THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A REST AGAINST A TREE, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BECAUSE OF THE FINAL IMPACT OF THE TREE I WAS HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD ENOUGH TO BEND IT. THE MOUNTING OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS ARE MOUNTED ON A FRAME RAIL WHICH HAS RUBBER MOUNT FROM THE BRACE TO THE FRAME WHICH WOULD ABSORB THE MOST OF THE IMPACT. FROM A CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184374 · 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)
BROUGHT VEHICLE HOME FROM DEALER WITH HEAVY VIBRATION AT 65 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHICH COULDN'T BALANCE TIRES, THEY SENT THEM TO A TIRE STORE. TIRES WERE BALANCED, VIBRATION BETTER BUT STILL THERE. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TIRE STORE WHERE ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND OTHER 3 TIRES BALANCED AGAIN. VIBRATION MUCH BETTER, BUT STILL NOTICE SLIGHT SHAKE AND VIBRATION STARTING AT 57-60 MPH. FEELS LIKE A WOBBLE, FEEL IT IN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. DEALER SAYS THAT TIRES CAN'T BE BALANCED BEYOND 55 MPH. FINDING OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 24 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192486 · 2007-06-05 (June 5, 2007)
I HAVE A 2006 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 ST. THE PROBLEM IS STATIC ELECTRICITY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CHRYSLER ENGINEER HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE WEATHER IS DRY AND I GO TO START MY VEHICLE THE SURGE OF THE STATIC ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR SETS OF MY HORN, MY CHIMES, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS, MY CARGO LIGHTS AND MY OPEN DOOR LIGHTS. THE HORN BLARE FOR UP TO 3 TO 4 MINUTES AND THE REST TAKES AN HOUR OR MORE TO RESET THEMSELVES OR I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET THEM TO STOP. THE DEALER SHIP GAVE ME A C…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303298 · 2010-01-30 (January 30, 2010)
2006 DODGE QUAD CAB PICK UP (4 WD) WHILE DRIVING HORN, DOME LIGHT AND CARGO LIGHT COME ON WITH NO WARNING OR REASON. EVENT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. SOME TIMES THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT. WHICH IS HAZARDOUS IN THE DARK. DEALER PUT IN A NEW CLUSTER AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. LAST TIME I DROVE GOT SHOCKED WHEN TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, HORN, DOME LIGHT AND CARGO LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE TO PULL THE NEG BATTERY CABLE. SYSTEM SEEMS TO RESET, HORN AND LIGHTS GO OUT. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. MY GUESS IS THE KEY SWITCH OR THE GROUND FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156738 · 2006-05-03 (May 3, 2006)
I HAVE A 2006 DODGE RAM 1500. IT WAS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER 2005. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING SO I TOOK INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM. IT IS A SILICONE SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS IT WAS LEAKING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAL. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS LEAKING WAY WORSE THAN BEFORE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD REPLACE IT AGAIN BUT MOST LIKELY IT WOULD STILL LEAK BECAUSE IT WAS A SILICONE SEAL AND THEY COULDN'T PUT ANY OTHER SEAL ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS AGAINST DODGES RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156981 · 2006-05-08 (May 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE NOISE WAS NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN. THE NOISE CONTINUES TO COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE REAR END VIBRATES. ADDITIONALLY, ON FIVE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 60MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED EACH TIME AFTER FIVE MINUTES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157823 · 2006-05-18 (May 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLES STALLS. THE VEHICLE RESTARTS, AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181905 · 2007-02-07 (February 7, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 (56000 FAILURE MILEAGE) AT 3 MPH OVER A HOLE ON A DIRT ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD A RUBBING SOUND AS IF THE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FENDER. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO TAKE A LOOK AND FOUND THE DRIVE SHAFT RUBBING AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE OVER THE HOLE THEN THE RUBBING NOISE STOPPED. THE CONTACT THINKS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE OVER HOLES WITHOUT RUBBING AGAINST THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289151 · 2009-10-20 (October 20, 2009)
ROLL OVER VALVE IS CRACKED IN 2006 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK GAS TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES (8/09) BUT THE CRACKED ROLL OVER VALVE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED UNTIL 4 VISITS LATER, ABOUT 79,000MILES (10/09). COMPUTER CODES DO NOT READILY IDENTIFY THE CRACKED ROLL OVER VALVE. THE GAS TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ROLL OVER VALVE IS BUILT IN. DODGE WILL NOT COVER A NEW GAS TANK UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NOT A USUAL PROCEDURE TO REPLACE GAS TANKS AND I WANTED TO REPORT THIS DEFECT IN THE ROLL OVER VALVE. A QUICK S…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289151 at NHTSA ↗