Is the 2006 Dodge Durango a bad year?
850 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Durango years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Dodge Durango are in line with other Durango years. Fuel system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Durango 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 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 549 (65%) | 45k–80k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 84 (10%) | 46k–122k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 66 (8%) | 53k–119k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 27 (3%) | 8k–114k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 23 (3%) | 31k–108k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (3%) | 40k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 17 (2%) | 48k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (2%) | 46k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 10 (1%) | 54k–136k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Speed control | 9 (1%) | 22k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 76 (9%) | 70k–127k miles · ahead | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 55 (6%) | 82k–140k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Equipment | 10 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (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 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 850 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Exhaust started ticking and upon investigating found 2 rear manifold bolts broken off allowing exhaust fumes to leak into engine compartment.
My Dodge durango has been having this problem for awhile. I finally did some online reading of posts and found other drivers having the same issue.
Dodge durango 2006. I have had numerous problems with this vehicle. At 119,000 miles, I have had the exhaust manifold gasket replaced 4 times due to broken bolts/studs, all O2 sensors replaced as well as the catalytic converter.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Dodge Durango: 10
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.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
On some sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, an integrated circuit in the instrument cluster that controls interior lighting may overheat. This could potentially cause an instrument panel fire.
On certain sport utility vehicles, the left rear suspension watts link may have been damaged during vehicle assembly and could fail. A failed watts link could adversely affect vehicle handling and cause a crash without warning.
On certain vans and sport utility vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor armature shaft may break. During certain operating conditions, loss of front windshield wiping capability could occur, and the driver's vision could be obscured which could result in a crash.
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the wrong occupant restraint controller (ORC) was installed on these vehicles. This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, a static electricity spark between the operator and the vehicle can cause the turn signal, headlamps or windshield wipers to malfunction without warning. This can impair the driver's vision and result in a crash.
On certain sport utility vehicles with anti-lock brake system (ABS), the ABS control module software program may cause the rear brakes to lock up during certain braking conditions. This could result in a loss of vehicle control and a crash could occur without warning.
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: 27
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Dodge Durango. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Transfer Case Gear Motor/Actuator Installation Guidelines
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
UConnect Hands Free Module Fails To Respond Due To Module Lock Up
NHTSA defect investigations: 7
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Side curtain air bag failure
Neighbouring years
2005 Durango: 1,566 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2007 Durango: 275 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Durango year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Durango years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Dodge Durango a bad year?
850 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Durango years. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge Durango?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (549), electrical system (84), engine (66), brakes (27), steering (23).
How many recalls does the 2006 Dodge Durango have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-352), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-313), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Electrical system (NHTSA 07V-092) 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.