2006 Dodge Charger Reliability
The 2006 Dodge Charger has 1,294 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel / propulsion system. Compared with nearby Charger model years (2006–2008), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Charger's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,294
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
21
Complaints citing a crash
12
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Dodge Charger complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2005 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 388 | 30% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 305 | 24% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 218 | 17% |
| Fuel system | 216 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 145 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 124 | 10% |
| Air bags | 103 | 8% |
| Steering | 89 | 7% |
2006 Dodge Charger recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05V460000 | Oct 6, 2005 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | On certain pickup trucks, sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 42rle automatic transmissions, the cup plug that retains the park pawl anchor shaft may be improperly installed. If the shaft moves out of position, the vehicle may not be able to… |
| 06V149000 | May 3, 2006 | Service brakes | Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.7 liter engines and mk25e braking systems may exhibit inadequate clearance between the rear brake tubes and the exhaust gas recirculation tube. Contact between the brake tubes and exhaust gas recirculation tube over… |
| 08V583000 | Nov 6, 2008 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / column shift | Chrysler is recalling 20,283 my 2006-2009 Charger and magnum vehicles built with the police package and equipped with a column shifter. The gearshift cable may become disengaged from the steering column mounting bracket and cause an incorrect transmission… |
| 15V313000 | May 27, 2015 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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 SRT8,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 16V352000 | May 24, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Charger years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Charger analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 (this page) | 1,294 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2007 | 570 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2008 | 624 | 5 | Electrical system | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Dodge Charger
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Dodge Charger can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Dodge Charger reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Dodge Charger reliable?
The 2006 Dodge Charger has 1,294 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel / propulsion system. Compared with nearby Charger model years (2006–2008), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Charger's typical year.
What are the most common 2006 Dodge Charger problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Dodge Charger are engine (388), fuel / propulsion system (305), powertrain / transmission (218), fuel system (216). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Dodge Charger have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2006 Dodge Charger, including 05V460000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission) and 06V149000 (service brakes). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Dodge Charger compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 570 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2006 has 1,294 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Dodge Charger?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Dodge Charger research
Other Dodge Charger model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Charger, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.