The Lemon Index2006 Ram 1500.
The 2006 Ram 1500 is about average by owner complaints: 254 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 99, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about suspension, it has 14 recalls, and it gets 9 to 16 mpg combined. The best Ram 1500 year is 2000.
Covers the whole Ram pickup line (1500, 2500 and 3500): Ram reports their sales together.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,719 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Ram 1500 year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 40K to 111K miles on the car (1,283 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 56K–128K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 43K–100K miles
- lights complaints mostly came at 40K–90K miles
Recalls 14
- airbags 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St.
- airbags 2015
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.
- electrical 2014
The return springs in the clutch ignition interlock switch may break.
Show all 14 recalls
- steering 2013
The left tie rod assembly may break.
- steering 2011
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14,…
- wheels 2010
FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN CARQUEST, NATIONAL, AND PERCISION BRAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS 515073 AND 515073, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCKS…
- steering 2010
FABTECH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS.
- visibility 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BRE…
- suspension 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING MAY HAVE RECEIVED AN INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF GREASE DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
- suspension 2007
CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS.
- airbags 2006
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.
- seat belts 2006
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TIGHTEN SECURELY ON CERTAIN MODEL …
- brakes 2006
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF FRONT TO REAR BRAKE BALANCE, AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD LOCK UP PREMATURELY DURING …
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
ON CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS, THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT TRANSFER CASE CALIBRATION SET POINTS, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN INADVERTENT TRANSFER CASE DEFAULT TO NEUTRAL.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ram told dealers about
Ram sent dealers 69 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1
- This SKU is an Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Line
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- OpenAir bag inflator rupture2015
- ClosedChrysler's execution of 13v-528 & 5292014–2016
- ClosedAir bag inflator rupture2014–2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side — · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4000–8850 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 8.3L 10-cyl.
In owners' words
The pickup shakes violently when hitting a bump at speed from 60 -75. Very dangerous.
2006 Ram 1500 owner · NHTSA complaint 10290063
More owner reports
Turn signal randomly flashes the opposite direction than indicated. Also will flash back and forth between left and right when either the left or right turn signal is turned on.
NHTSA complaint 10292546
Turn signals intermittently stop working and worse sometimes flash opposite direction of what they should. Very dangerous. Dodge should recall this problem which is evidently happening a lot on 2006 Dodge Ram trucks.
NHTSA complaint 10266320
Quick answers
Is the 2006 Ram 1500 reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 99; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ram 1500 year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2006 Ram 1500 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are suspension (21%), lights (17%) and transmission & drivetrain (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Ram 1500 have?
14 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Ram 1500 get?
9 to 16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Ram 1500 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,700 and 111,000 miles. The middle report was at 70,000 miles, from 1,283 complaints.
Does the 2006 Ram 1500 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 17% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2006 Ram 1500 cost in fuel a year?
About $4000 to $8850 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Ram 1500 have?
3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 8.3L 10-cyl.
What Ram 1500 year is better than the 2006?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2017 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works