Is the 2006 Dodge Charger a bad year?
1,294 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 448, 41× a quiet Charger year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 70k–120k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 4 of 140 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Charger owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 88,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 516 (40%) | 60k–105k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 441 (34%) | 70k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 218 (17%) | 52k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 145 (11%) | 67k–123k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 103 (8%) | 72k–148k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 89 (7%) | 57k–101k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 52 (4%) | 71k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 27 (2%) | 30k–89k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Exterior lighting | 20 (2%) | 69k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 124 (10%) | 6k–40k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Stability control | 16 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 13 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 88,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,294 complaints: 21 mention a crash · 12 mention a fire · 21 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Minutes after filling my tank with gas, I drove less than a mile and turned into a parking lot. I was still driving, around 15 MPH, when I heard a ding, and immediately noticed a loss of steering control.
At least three times my 5.7 liter hemi has stalled while driving. It has always stalled at low speeds (I.e. Under 35 MPH) and sometimes as slow as 15.
My vehicle began shutting off while idle about about a year ago. It started back up immediately and I was able to continue driving.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 88,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Dodge Charger: 5
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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The gearshift cable may become disengaged from the steering column mounting bracket and cause an incorrect transmission gearshift position display. This could allow the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction startling the driver, and cause a crash without warning.
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. This can result in a decrease of braking force and the potential for an engine compartment fire.
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 achieve 'park' position. If this occurs and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away and cause a crash without warning.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 18
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Dodge Charger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Service Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
Drivers And/Or Passenger Front Power Door Locks And Windows Inoperative U0200 Lost Communication With Passengers Door Module U0199 Lost Communication…
Dodge: lost communication between drivers and passenger power door locks and windows are inoperative, and possibly need to be replace, if necessary…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engine Stall
Neighbouring years
2007 Charger: 570 complaints, consider selling.
Every Dodge Charger year
2001 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2026 · All Charger years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2006 Dodge Charger a bad year?
1,294 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 448, 41× a quiet Charger year. At 88,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 70k–120k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 4 of 140 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge Charger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (516), engine (441), transmission and drivetrain (218), electrical system (145), air bags (103). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 70k–120k miles.
How many recalls does the 2006 Dodge Charger have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-352), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-313), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 08V-583), Brakes (NHTSA 06V-149) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.