RoadVitals

2006 Dodge Dakota Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jul 13, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 284 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Jul 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the subframe was rusted and the rear spring holder had fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,500.

NHTSA ID
11749982
Incident
Jul 11, 2026
Mileage
55,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 7, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH AND CABLE ASSEMBLIES FOR EACH DOOR WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON 5/7/19. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. *BF 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID
11205966
Incident
May 1, 2019
Mileage
53,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 7, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH ASSEMBLY AND CABLE WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED BOTH DOORS FAILED. RIGHT REAR DOOR FAILED ON VIN XXXX TRUCK AND VIN XXXX. REFERENCE NUMBER XXXX AND XXXX. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID
11205952
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
53,312 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V352000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TRAIL OF MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/29/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
11006528
Incident
Jun 20, 2017
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jun 7, 2017

THIS TRUCK IS A BAD PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE BEEN DONE ALONG WITH THE THE YEARS I'M TIRED OF DRIVETRAIN WHEEL HUBS AND FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACES EVERY MONTH.

NHTSA ID
10993696
Incident
May 31, 2017
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 6, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED CORRECTLY. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES, SUCH AS A DAMAGED FRONT CROSS MEMBER, A FRACTURED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STABILIZER LINK, A WORN PASSENGER SIDE UPPER CONTROL BUSHING, AND OTHER ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. UPDATED 03/02/17*LJ***UPDATED 05/09/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID
10940229
Incident
Oct 15, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS BENT. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE WAS DAMAGED. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,584.

NHTSA ID
10810521
Incident
Nov 30, 2015
Mileage
139,584 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 21, 2015

REAR DOORS WONT OPEN WHEN USING HANDLES ON CLUB CAB. CABLES WONT RELEASE MECHANISM AND MAY BE SAFETY HAZARD IN SUCH CASES OF AN ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE FIRE TRAPPING PERSON OR PERSONS IN THE REAR CAB AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10689731
Incident
Apr 25, 2014
Mileage
37,611 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 19, 2015

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE PRIOR TO 65K MILES. LOWER FRONT CLIP/FRAME, FRAME MOUNTS AND LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT RUSTING AWAY (UNDER THE PAINT). FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM AROUND 36K MILES WITH SURFACE RUST APPEARING THRU PAINT. STEEL HAS DETERIORATED TO POINT WHERE CHUNKS ARE FALLING OFF (PAINT STILL ATTACHED), AND SOME OF THE STEEL HAS TURNED TO FLAKES/POWDER BENEATH THE PAINT. TO THIS DATE THIS IS THE ONLY AREA OF TRUCK FRAME AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. BRAKE LINES ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE RUSTING AND WILL BE REPLACED SOON DUE TO CONCERN OF RUPTURING. HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED BRAKE LINES RUSTING LIKE THESE ARE. INQUIRED ABOUT RUSTING OF FRAME AND WAS TOLD IT IS COMMON ON CHRYSLER VEHICLES PAINTED SILVER. TRUCK IS WELL MAINTAINED AND KEPT CLEAN. MY OPINION IS IT'S A COMBINATION OF LOW QUALITY STEEL AND PAINT. I AM CONCERNED HOW MUCH THIS WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF VEHICLE SAFETY IN EVENT OF FRONT END COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10684328
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
36,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed May 28, 2014

RADIATOR SUPPORT BRACKET RUSTED AWAY. RADIATOR COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594519
Incident
May 21, 2014
Mileage
80,300 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 16, 2011

2006 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4...POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES SINCE 11/2008 (ALL FOUR DOORS ONCE AND THE REAR DOORS TWICE). PROBLEMS STARTED AT 35,000 MILES WITH FRONT DRIVER SIDE ACTUATOR, THEN PROCEEDED TO FRONT PASSENGER SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THEN REAR DRIVER SIDE, REAR PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT DRIVER SIDE, REAR DRIVER SIDE. MILEAGE AT LAST FAILURE: 82,000. VEHICLE NOT SUBJECTED TO EXTREME CONDITIONS. CITY/HIGHWAY DRIVING ONLY (NO OFF ROAD). *TR

NHTSA ID
10436016
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
35,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalTransmission
Filed Nov 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB SLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFORMATION SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WOULD DISPLAY IMPROPER MILES TO GALLON READINGS AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPASS WOULD ALSO INDICATE INCORRECT DIRECTIONAL READINGS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BURN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF TO STOP THE HORN. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN HE SHIFTED GEARS. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED AT THE LOCAL DEALER. UPON RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND INTERMITTENTLY HESITATED WHEN GEARS WERE SHIFTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10365500
Incident
Jan 26, 2009
Mileage
21,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .