Problems · NHTSA complaints
2006 Dodge Dakota problems
Owners filed 285 complaints about the 2006 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA between Apr 2006 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (126).
Complaints
285
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags126
- Steering47
- Power train36
- Electrical system30
- Suspension25
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Structure12
- Service brakes9
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Visibility/wiper8
- Exterior lighting8
- Visibility7
- Engine6
- Seat belts5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
12
10
12
10
21
10
14
10
19
54
50
33
5
12
1
3
0
2
2
2
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
126 reports18 crashes3 fires2 related recalls
“Had front collision and airbag didnt deploy,dont know speed,but fast enough to collapse whole front to shift and tear the frame... airbag recall replacement done in February”
Steering
47 reports1 crash
“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 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICKS DODGE (1468 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC 29407, (843) 352-6931) AND THE MECHANICS WERE UNSURE IF A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND/OR NEW IGNITION SWITCH WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.”
Power train
36 reports2 crashes1 fire
“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 A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST YEAR DURING THE LATE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS.”
Electrical system
30 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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 warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the air bag caught on fire. The contact stated that the driver attempted to exit the vehicle, but the doors remained locked and the vehicle failed to shift to park(P) for two minutes. The driver was able to shift to neutral(N). The driver broke the front passenger's side window glass and exited the vehicle. A sheriff deputy parked his vehicle behind the driver's vehicle to prevent the vehicle from moving. The contact stated that the air bag fire burned the entire steering wheel and the steering column, the windshield and the front driver's side seat. The fire was extinguished with four extinguishers and with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. A police report was filed but the contact did not have the police report information available. The contact's son sustained intrusion of metal shards in his…”
Suspension
25 reports
“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 REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
15 reports3 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND SHIFTING GEARS, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,998. UPDATED 10/21/13*CN”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.