Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Dodge Ram 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 792 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V352000 Do Not Drive - Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V313000 Do Not Drive - Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V795000 Clutch Ignition Interlock Switch NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V528000 Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E040000 WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E013000 AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E104000 CURVED TEMPERED AUTOMOTIVE REPLACEMENT GLASS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V038000 FRONT WHEEL BEARING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V353000 FMVSS 208/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT/CHILD SEAT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V354000 FMVSS 208/SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY/CHILD SEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V038000 ABS ECU NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V461000 TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 193 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 139 complaints
- Electrical System 125 complaints
- Suspension 106 complaints
- Power Train 100 complaints
- Steering 84 complaints
Of the 792 complaints on file, 43 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 792 complaints, owners report 42 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Dodge RAM 1500 has faced a substantial number of recalls and complaints, particularly concerning airbags, electrical systems, and suspension. With 12 recall campaigns and 792 complaints, this model year shows significant reliability concerns. Common issues include airbag failures and electrical system problems, which can be costly to repair. Given the extensive recall list and high complaint volume, reliability is considered below-average.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $100–$750 | common |
| Suspension | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | occasional |
| Steering | Unknown | $250–$1,200 | occasional |
| Power train | Unknown | $400–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission service
- Coolant flush
- Spark plug replacement
- Wheel alignment
- Tire rotation and balance
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Electrical shorts and dim lights
- Uneven tire wear
- Loud suspension noises
- Unexpected engine stalling
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.