2006 Dodge Dakota Electrical Problems

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 right leg and bruises on the stomach, arm, and chest. The contact's son also sustained migraine, insomnia, panic attacks, and PTSD. The contact's son did not receive medical assistance. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer then towed the vehicle to their location and took pictures of the failure. The dealer then towed the vehicle back to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 221,000.

NHTSA ID

11657825

Incident

Apr 16, 2025

Mileage

221,000 mi

After driving on the interstate highway for a couple hours from Phoenix, Arizona I noticed that the left turn signal started malfunctioning, and the right signal flashed instead. After several hours of driving, noticed that sometimes the right signal only flashed 3 or 4 times when turning on the right indicator. I also noticed that the emergency flashers would usually blink once or twice left, then switch to right only. While stopped, I verified that the right front and rear turn signals were actually blinking as indicated on the dash. The next day however the problem was gone. I drove the car on the interstate again for several hours, without any issues.

NHTSA ID

11577090

Incident

Mar 3, 2024

IT IS CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING THROWING OFF MORE CODES. PASSAGER AIRBAG ALSO KEEP TURNING OFF. ALSO WELL DRIVING THE CAR JERKS BACK?

NHTSA ID

11387299

Incident

Sep 19, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID

11204488

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

Mileage

103,000 mi

ABS LIGHT WONT EVEN FLASH OR GIVE WARNING AND TRUCK SLID A BIT. NO ACCIDENTS TO REPORT, YET. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER BRAKING WHEN THE NEEDLE DIPS BELOW 20 MILES PER HOUR. THATS WHY I GIVE PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN CARS WHEN APPROACHING A LIGHT JUST IN CASE THE TRUCK SLIDES. I HAVE COMPLAINED BUT DODGE KEEPS TELLING ME MY VIN NUMBER HAS NO RECALL FOR MY ABS ECU. THERE IS A RECALL FOR ABS ECU BUT NOT ON MY VIN NUMBER BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE ABS RECALL. SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN IT DOES IT. IM ALSO HAVING A PROBEM WITH MY IGNITION SWITH. AT TIMES IT WILL DO A NO START. THAT IS ALSO ON THE RECALL LIST BUT I WAS TOLD AGAIN MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T ON THE LIST BUT I HAVE THESE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE RECALL. NO ONE WILL REPLACE THESE ITEMS IF YOUR VIN NUMBER ISN'T ON THE LIST EVEN IF YOUR VEHICLE IS HAVING THE PROBLEMS REPORTED FOR THE RECALL. WHEN SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS THEN WHO WILL BE TO BLAME. MY VIN NUMBER WAS RECALLED JUST FOR AIRBAGS ONLY. THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE FIXED ASAP BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES MAY RESLT.

NHTSA ID

11073033

Incident

May 8, 2012

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A WARNING CHIME WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE SERVICE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND, WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO FOUR WHEEL LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WANTED THE MANUFACTURER TO AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD FORWARD THE REQUEST TO THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,500.

NHTSA ID

10995322

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

135,500 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR TRIES SHIFTING INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE EVEN WHEN I DON'T HAVE THE TRUCK RUNNING. ALSO THE STOCK STEREO SYSTEM WILL ONCE IN AWHILE TURN ON BUT NOW IT WON'T AND THE ACC WILL NOT WORK. MY TRUCK ALSO TRIES TO SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY OR A PARKING SPACE

NHTSA ID

10950393

Incident

Jul 27, 2016

MY 2006 DODGE DAKOTA, 4.7 TRANSFERCASE IS SHIFTING ON ITS OWN. EVEN WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. ALSO WHEN DRIVING SHIFTS IN AND OUT OF 4X4.

NHTSA ID

10927778

Incident

Oct 20, 2016

I BOUGHT MY TRUCK AT AUTO ADVANTAGE IN HENDERSONVILLE N.C. IN MARCH 2016 TO DAYS LATER TRANSMISSION WENT IN LIMP MODE THEY REPLACED COMPUTER THREE TIMES, THEN A WEEK AN HALF LATER HAPPEN AGAIN THIS TIME THEY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THEN WIPERS WANT STOP AT TIMES IN PARK WHEN CUTOFF. STEERING HAS A POPPING WHEN TURNING. NOW THE TRUCK THRU 4 CODES CHECK EVERYTHING NEXT DAY CHECK CODES HAS 3 CODES CHECKED AGAIN WENT TO WORK CODES STILL ON THAT EVENING STARTED HOME NO LIGHT OR CODES THROWN ITS LIKE IT FIXED ITS SELF NEED HELP TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. CAN NOT AFFORD ANYMORE FIXES. I OWE TWO LOANS BOTH ON TRUCK AUTO ADVANTAGE WOULD NOT HELP ON TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. NEVER BUY FROM THEM AGAIN WORST BUY I EVER HAD. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH MY PROBLEMS?

NHTSA ID

10926023

Incident

Mar 16, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE STARTING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V795000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V313000 (AIR BAGS); 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 2/4/16 *CN

NHTSA ID

10807913

Incident

Jan 30, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V795000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10794576

Incident

Jul 18, 2015

BACK ON 1/14/2015 I BROUGHT MY 2006 DODGE DAKOTA TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF RUSTED BRAKE LINES. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, AT 45K MI., MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER ON START-UP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER IT WOULD REMAIN LIT AFTER START-UP. I WAITED TO REQUEST RE-SERVICING MY VEHICLE, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE AIR BAGS WERE ON RECALL. THEREFORE, I WAITED UNTIL I WAS GIVEN THE CALL TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. THE DATE FOR SERVICING WAS 10/30/2015. UPON COMPLETION OF THE AI BAG REPLACEMENT I WAS TOLD MY NEW AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY NOR DOES THE HORN WORK. THIS WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL $600.00. THE CAUSE OF THIS SAFETY FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING UNIT. MY QUESTION IS AT UNDER 50KMI. IS IT NORMAL FOR THIS SAFETY COMPONENT TO FAIL AND IS THIS A CONSTANT IN OTHER VEHICLES? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PLACING FAULTY SAFETY RELATED EQUIPMENT IN VEHICLES ONLY INCREASES PROFIT MARGINS,OVER AND ABOVE THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE EXPENSES.

NHTSA ID

10787996

Incident

Mar 16, 2015

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM TWO WHEEL HIGH GEAR INTO FOUR WHEEL LOW GEAR. THE SERVICE FOUR WHEEL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ...UPDATED 02/04/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF. THE FUSE FOR THE 4 WHEEL SWITCH WAS PULLED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH IN LOW RANGE AND NO LONGER HAD 4 WHEEL DRIVE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10782186

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE MY DASH LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE RECALL SHOULD COVER 2006 MODELS. WHEN WE RUN THE VIN NUMBER IT DOES NOT SHOW FOR MY VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ALL OTHER 2006 DODGE DURANGO BECAUSE IT IS A FIRE RISK. CAN YOU PLEASE SEE IF THERE IS ANY WAY THAT MY VEHICLE JUST GOT MISSED.

NHTSA ID

10761740

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE STEERING GETS HARD TO TURN LIKE IT IS GOING TO LOCK UP. I SPRAY IT WITH WD40. THIS HAPPENS EVERY FEW DAYS. THE ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN SCREWED UP FOREVER. I TURN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON THE THE RIGHT ONE BLINKS AND VISE VERSA. SOME TIMES THEY BOTH BLINK BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE TALKED TO THE LOCAL DODGE GARAGE AND ALL THEY SAY IS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. I WASNT NOTIFIED BY DODGE ABOUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG EITHER. LOOKED UP THE VIN NUMBER AFTER SEEING A REPORT ON TV. THAT WAS 2 MONTHS AGO AND THE DODGE GARAGE JUST FIXED THE AIR BAG ON JULY 21 AFTER I CALLED THEM FOR THE SECOND TIME TO SEE IF THE PART WAS IN. UPDATED 10/07/15*LJ UPDATED 12/08/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10743754

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

Mileage

44,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND FUEL GAUGE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED BUT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DISPLAYED THE ACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V795000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10733919

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V795000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10703515

Incident

Apr 3, 2015

1. 4WD TRANSFER CASE CHANGES MODE BY ITSELF (UNCOMMANDED TRANSFER CASE MODE CHANGE). 2. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CONSOLE / CLUSTER WILL INDICATE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY: SERVICE 4WD, 4 LO, 4 HI. I HAVEN'T DETERMINED IF THERE IS CORRELATION TO THESE INDICATORS ILLUMINATING AND THE ACTUAL TRANSFER CASE MODE. 3. VEHICLE WILL SHIFT INTO 4HI BY ITSELF WHEN MOVING, MAKING U-TURNS ON DRY PAVEMENT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. THERE IS NO INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD OF TRANSFER CASE MODE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. 4. VEHICLE'S TRANSFER CASE SHIFT MOTOR WILL ACTIVATE WITH TRUCK PARKED (ENGINE OFF, KEY OUT OF IGNITION, PARKING BRAKE SET, IN PARK) AND SEEMS REPEATABLE BY OPENING OR CLOSING ANY OF THE DOORS. TRANSFER CASE MOTOR SOUND IS THE SAME SEQUENCE (TRUCK IS NORMALLY IN 2 HI) EVERY TIME. 5. MANUALLY ACTIVATING TRANSFER CASE USING DASH-MOUNTED 4WD SELECTOR KNOB, WHILE TRUCK IS RUNNING AND MOVING (4 HI) OR IN NEUTRAL (4 LO) APPEARS TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669865

Incident

Dec 29, 2014

Mileage

93,867 mi

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN HWY I-5 IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON. MY HUSBANDS KNEE BUMPED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604264

Incident

Jun 14, 2014

THE PAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF WITH THE GAUGES ALL DROPPING AND NOT WORKING. TODAY I WAS SITTING IN PARK WHEN MY HORN CAME ON AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON THEN THE WIPERS AND SPRAYERS STARTED GOING OFF WHILE THE RADIO WAS SWITCHING THROUGH CHANNELS. I SAW ON THIS SIGHT THAT THE PROBLEMS LOOK SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS OF VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. AFTER CALLING THE MANUFACTURER THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEMS ARE SIMILAR MY VEHICLE ISN'T UNDER THIS RECALL FOR 06 DODGE DAKOTAS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558485

Incident

Jan 4, 2014

). I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF SAFETY CONCERNS I HAVE WITH MY 2006 DODGE DAKOTA LARAMIE (4X4 QUAD CAB). MY ISSUES ARE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE / TRANSMISSION OF MY TRUCK. 1.MY TRUCK HAS SHIFTED INTO FOUR LOW ON ITS OWN AT LOW SPEEDS IN BOTH REVERSE AND AT LOW SPEEDS MOVING FORWARD. 2.WHEN I AM NOT IN THE VEHICLE MY DODGE DAKOTA WILL TRY AND SHIFT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ON ITS OWN (LIKE I SAID, NO ONE IS IN THE VEHICLE). 3.WHEN I HIT MY UNLOCK BUTTON, MY TRUCK WILL TRY AND GO INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. 4.WHILE I AM DRIVING BOTH AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS THE 4 LOW WILL FLASH AND PERIODICALLY THE SVC FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN GO OUT. 5.WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHES INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (INTERMITTENTLY) THE TIRES FEEL TO BE SKIDDING OR LOCKING UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511825

Incident

Apr 12, 2013

Mileage

155,284 mi

MY TURN SIGNALS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. IT OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES AND I CAN TEMPORARILY FIX IT BY ADJUSTING THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456532

Incident

Apr 5, 2010

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR A FEW WEEKS. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO SIGNAL LEFT, THE SIGNAL TURNS ON TO THE RIGHT AND VICE VERSA. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT RELIABLE WHEN USING THE SWITCH. BOTH TURN SIGNALS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447055

Incident

Feb 7, 2012

Mileage

33,000 mi

WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING AND THEN COME BACK ON WHEN THEY GET READY. MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447028

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

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