2006 Dodge RAM 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
669 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 511 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 216 of 669 complaints (32.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 183 | 27.4% |
| Braking behavior | 59 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 33 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 26 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 216 |
| Electrical System | 126 |
| Exterior Lighting | 106 |
| Suspension | 77 |
| Air Bags | 75 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Suspension:Front | 25 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 24 |
Steering: 216; Electrical System: 126; Exterior Lighting: 106; Suspension: 77; Air Bags: 75; Power Train: 27; Suspension:Front: 25; Visibility/Wiper: 24
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 98 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 104 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 80 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 121 |
| 150,000 and above | 65 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 98; 50,000 to 74,999: 104; 75,000 to 99,999: 80; 100,000 to 149,999: 121; 150,000 and above: 65
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (121). 158 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 | 10 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 46 |
| 2010 | 90 |
| 2011 | 84 |
| 2012 | 50 |
| 2013 | 31 |
| 2014 | 111 |
| 2015 | 75 |
| 2016 | 49 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2006: 10; 2007: 8; 2008: 22; 2009: 46; 2010: 90; 2011: 84; 2012: 50; 2013: 31; 2014: 111; 2015: 75; 2016: 49; 2017: 33; 2018: 16; 2019: 4; 2020: 8; 2021: 8; 2022: 6; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 5; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 183 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 59 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 33 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 10176874 · 2006-12-23 (December 23, 2006)
I OWN A 2006 DODGE 1 TON CREW CAB TRUCK. DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE WHEEL BOUNCING WHEN A HIT A BUMP AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR. I CONTACT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER, THEY LOOK AT IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. ON DECEMBER 20, 2006 I HIT A BUMP ON THE INTERSTATE AT NEARLY 70 MILES PER HOUR THAT PUT MY TRUCK INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE, NEARLY HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME AND SLIDE SIDEWAYS TO A STOP. VERY LUCKY THAT OTHERS WERE NOT HIT OR THAT I DID NOT ROLL. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO SPRINGFIELD, MO AND TOOK IT TO C…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228542 · 2008-05-21 (May 21, 2008)
POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING GEAR FAILED AT 41,000 MILES. WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE ITEMS. TRUCK CANNOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO MOVE UNLESS REPAIRED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256461 · 2009-01-27 (January 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE. THERE WAS A HIGH ENGINE IDLE, WHICH LED TO UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. IMMEDIATELY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE DRIVER STEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A SNOW BANK IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETER…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265540 · 2009-04-15 (April 15, 2009)
WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING DIED MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. THIS IS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING, PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES OF BRIEF DIFFICULT STEERING HAPPENED TWO OR THREE TIMES. ALSO BRAKING WAS AFFECTED ,DECREASING STOPPING ABILITY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP AND TURN THE TRUCK TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A BUILDING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 56,102 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265550 · 2009-04-15 (April 15, 2009)
UPON CONNECTING A TRAILER WITH A WIRING FAULT TO THE 2006 DODGE RAM DIESEL 4X2 , THE TIPM ON THE TRUCK CUTS OFF THE CIRCUIT. TESTING INDICATES A MINOR FAULT WITH THE TRAILER WIRING, WHICH ALLOWS TRAILER LIGHTS TO OPERATE ON NON-DODGE VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER THE TIPM HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE DODGE RAM DOES NOT HAVE A FUSE FOR TRAILER TURN SIGNAL CIRCUITS NOR ANY OTHER MEANS TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSUMER TO ADDRESS WIRING FAULTS ON TRAILERS, REGARDLESS THE DODGE RAM IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW TOWING. THIS PRESENTS A CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266327 · 2009-04-21 (April 21, 2009)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY IN POURING RAIN WHEN THE WIPERS STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY GOING FROM REAL FAST THEN SLOW THEN STOPPED LEAVING THE WIPER ARM RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYE LEVEL . THEY NEVER CAME BACK ON. LUCKILY I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED NEW WIPER MOTOR DID NOTHING LATER ORDERED A MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. NOW IM TOLD THAT 2006 DODGE RAM 2500 HAS A TIPM IN PLACE OF THE FUSE THIS IS CALLED A TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE. I SEARCHED THE TURBO DIESEL REGISTRY AND THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPER…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174679 · 2006-11-29 (November 29, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE BACK UP ALARM SOUNDED AS IF TO INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179556 · 2007-01-18 (January 18, 2007)
2006 DODGE RAM TRUCK WITH A LONG LIST OF PROBLEMS**CC THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT LOCK, SHIFT LEVER, EXHAUST SMOKES EXCESSIVELY, THE ENGINE SHUTTERS AND SHUTDOWN, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IMPROPERLY PRIMARILY IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF, THE ELECTRIC LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAB LIGHTS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10179556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352926 · 2010-08-31 (August 31, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500 MEGACAB 4X4. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ECM MODULE AND TIPM FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ECM WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY HOWEVER THE TIPM WOULD BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO HER BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/10/10 *BF UPDATED 12/27/10
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393587 · 2011-03-29 (March 29, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN HE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO FLUSHED THE THROTTLE BODY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CU…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154488 · 2006-04-04 (April 4, 2006)
HAVE A 2005 DODGE CUMMINS, AND A 2006 DODGE CUMMINS. THEY WERE BUILT WITH AN UPGRADED INJECTION SYSTEM, THAT HAS A ONE MICRON INJECTOR.. AFTER A SHORT TIME THE INJECTORS BECOME PLUGGED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM REACTS BY SOMETIMES DECELERATING AND OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE TRIES TO RUN AWAY OR ACCELERATE WITHOUT YOUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL, THE TIMES THAT HAPPENED WAS FORTUNATELY AT A LIGHT WITH ENGINE IDLING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH THE 2005 AND 2006 TRUCKS REPAIRED BY DODGE NO WARRANTY REPAIR AT GREAT COST THEY SAY BAD FUEL THAT IS THEIR STANDARD LINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,176 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342676 · 2010-07-12 (July 12, 2010)
#4 FUEL INJECTOR LINE FAILURE, 2006 DODGE 2500 DIESEL, ONE OWNER,NEVER WRECKED. SPRAYED FUEL ALL OVER UNDER HOOD AND ON EXHAUST WITH A LOT OF SMOKE AND STRONG DIESEL SMELL. ACCORDING TO DODGE PARTS DEPARTMENT, THIS PART, CUMMINGS PART #508674AB, GOES BAD SO OFTEN THAT IT IS THE ONLY FUEL INJECTOR LINE OUT OF A POSSIBLE SIX LINES THAT THEY KEEP IN STOCK. THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE,WITH THIS FAILURE,IS, IN MY OPINION,IS VERY HIGH. A RECALL IS IN ORDER. I AM A RETIRED AUTO MECHANIC WITH ABOUT 40+ YEARS EXPERIENCE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 77,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342676 at NHTSA ↗