MYRModel Year Report

2006 Dodge RAM 3500

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2006 Dodge RAM 3500
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Dodge RAM 3500 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2006 highlighted. 1991: 4 complaints 1991 1992: 10 complaints 1993: 20 complaints 1994: 70 complaints 1994 1995: 108 complaints 1996: 124 complaints 1997: 125 complaints 1997 1998: 105 complaints 1999: 104 complaints 2000: 58 complaints 2000 2001: 130 complaints 2002: 44 complaints 2003: 286 complaints 2003 2004: 214 complaints 2005: 196 complaints 2006: 257 complaints 2006 2007: 208 complaints 2008: 173 complaints 2009: 105 complaints 2009 2010: 150 complaints 2011: 223 complaints 2012: 365 complaints 2012
2006: 257 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19914
199210
199320
199470
1995108
1996124
1997125
1998105
1999104
200058
2001130
200244
2003286
2004214
2005196
2006257
2007208
2008173
2009105
2010150
2011223
2012365

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

STEERING 25%

25% of complaints: steering — 65 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

2006 DODGE RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20140127

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%

19% of complaints: electrical system — 50 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

ON THE NIGHT OF APR 16, 2019 IT SAME LIKE EVERYDAY I WENT HOME FROM WORK BACK UP MY TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY TURN OFF AND GOT IN THE HOUSE FORGOT MY IPAD WENT BACK OUT AND GET IT ,BACK IN THE HOUSE WENT TO TAKE THE SHOWER AND THEN FIVE MINUTES LATER...

NHTSA ODI report, 20190422

WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY SMOKE, BURNING PLASTIC ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL, PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE ORANGE WIRE NEXT TO THE 100 PIN POWER DISTRIBUTION BLOCK UNDER THE DASHBOARD SMOKING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120408

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13%

13% of complaints: exterior lighting — 34 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD AT 70MPH WHEN APPROACHING MY ROAD. I TURNED ON MY LEFT BLINKER TO SIGNAL MY UPCOMING TURN AND WHEN I BEGAN TO TURN THE CAR BEHIND ME WENT TO PASS THINKING THAT I WAS TURNING RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121103

AIR BAGS 12%

12% of complaints: air bags — 31 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
POWER TRAIN 6%

6% of complaints: power train — 15 distinct reports on file.

CRASH DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

A POSSIBLE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT/FRONT SUSPENSION POSSIBLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A FATALITY CRASH. *DT*JB*DT*JB*JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20190412

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2006 — complaint volume: 257
R 20060320 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL REAR WHEELS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE TRUCKS M

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAB CLEARANCE LIGHTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 06V073000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060717 — service brakes, hydraulic

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF FRONT TO REAR BRAKE BALANCE, AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD LOCK UP

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 06V038000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20061010 — visibility

CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 111, "REAR VIEW MIRRORS". THE RIGHT OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR GLASS HAS A CURVED (CONVEX) MIRROR GLASS

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT OUTSIDE CONVEX MIRROR GLASS WITH A FLAT MIRROR GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 06V380000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070312 — suspension

CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT TREATMENT DURI

Remedy: LKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN ARM, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LKI AT 1-800-551-4955.

Campaign 07E009000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20080115 — visibility

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN

Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIM

Campaign 07E104000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20081007 — PE (closed 20090417)

TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION

R 20100524 — steering

FABTECH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS93001 AND FT44039, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2003 THROUGH 2008 DODGE 2500 4WD, 3500 4WD, AND 1500 4WD MEGA CAB VEHICLES.

Remedy: FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUTHORIZED INSTALLERS WILL INSPECT FOR DEFECTIVE PITMAN ARM AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTEC

Campaign 10E013000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20111003 — steering

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTUR

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF C

Campaign 11V350000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20140117 — steering

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Dodge RAM 2500 4x4 and 3500 4x4, model year 2007-2008 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis and model year 2006-2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Meg

Remedy: Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in January 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N62.

Campaign 13V528000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140519 — PE (closed 20141223)

Clutch Interlock Switch Malfunction

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20141020 — AQ (closed 20160516)

Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150327 — electrical system

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Dakota, and 2006 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006 with manual transmissions.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clutch ignition interlock switch, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 14V795000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150608 — air bags

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and...

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners.

Campaign 15V313000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20170327 — air bags

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.

Campaign 16V352000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2006 Dodge RAM 3500 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for steering issues (65 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (50 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for exterior lighting issues (34 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 06V073000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V038000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V380000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E009000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E104000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 10E013000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V350000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V528000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V795000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V313000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V352000 (air bags) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2002 ▲ 2000 ▲ 1994

WORST YEARS

■ 2012 ■ 2003 ◆ 2011

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2006 Dodge RAM 3500 reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2006 Dodge RAM 3500 is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge RAM 3500?

The most-reported component is steering, accounting for 25% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2006 Dodge RAM 3500 have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.