Skip to content
Dodge ChargerModel year report

2006 Dodge Charger Problems

Complaints
1,294filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
80,475miles, 1,079 complaints with mileage
Recalls
52 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Dodge Charger (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the car stalling or dying, frequently shortly after refueling, and often with no warning light. Many reports come at moderate to high mileage, with complaints spread across city streets, intersections and highway speeds. A second cluster involves the floor shifter being stuck in park, and a smaller group describes electrical symptoms such as flickering headlights and intermittent shutdowns of gauges and lights.

  1. Fuel system

    Stalls or dies after refueling

    • 571 complaints (44%)
    • median 82,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (517 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 35 quotes)
    • filed 2006–2026

    Owners describe the engine cutting out or sputtering within a short distance of filling the tank, sometimes stalling several times on one trip and restarting after repeated attempts. Many say the problem eases once fuel level drops below about three-quarters, so some avoid topping off. Complaints mention that dealers often found no stored codes, and some report being told the fuel tank or an emissions valve in the tank needed replacement. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 to over 200,000 miles, most commonly at 70,000 to 150,000 miles.

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank or in-tank valves have been replaced and whether the car has shown stalling right after fill-ups. After a test-drive fill-up, check that the engine idles and pulls away cleanly with a full tank.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Every time I fill my car up with gas and drive off from the gas station into on coming traffic the car will stall in the middle of the road I almost got hit in the side just yesterday. I got online and did some research and found out that there is a problem with the gas tanks on these cars that cause them to stall after putting gas in them.”

    NHTSA complaint #11408601, filed 2021-04, 215,915 miles

    “For the last several months I have had problems with my 2006 Dodge Charger rt stalling and cutting while driving or idling while stopped. This happens only after filling up my gas tank. Recently it happened while turning at an intersection and I had to quickly steer into a business parking lot to get out of traffic.”

    NHTSA complaint #11320624, filed 2020-04, 120,000 miles
  2. Engine

    Random stalling and momentary power loss while driving

    • 273 complaints (21%)
    • median 87,100 mi at 8.6 yrs old (239 state mileage)
    • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,017 (median of 18 quotes)
    • filed 2006–2025

    Owners report the engine quitting without warning at lights, in traffic or at highway speed, sometimes with a brief loss of power steering and assist. Some describe the car going dead for a split second and recovering on its own, while others need to pull over and restart. Complaints mention mechanics cleaning grounds, throttle bodies and sensors, and dealers sometimes reflashing the computer without a lasting fix. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 200,000 miles, at varying speeds and often without warning lights.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for service records showing any computer reflashes or sensor and ground repairs, and test-drive at steady and stop-and-go speeds to see whether the engine falters.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Transmission and car computer are not working together properly, making the transmission shut off as I drive the car. Can happen at a red light, in the highway, even when it's parked. Brought it to several mechanics no one could fix it. Called the dealership and they claim no open recall but yet the car only has 89k miles. Was built wrong off the line if you ask me.”

    NHTSA complaint #11102594, filed 2018-06, 88,973 miles

    “Car will shut off going 45 MPH, at a stop light (0 MPH) or when crossing traffic intersections for examples (at most going 10 or 15 MPH). I will attempt to restart and the car will start up, stall up and then shut off again - when this happens, I lose power steering. I have to switch gears from drive to park and then turn the car off and then on again in hopes it will start. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11163845, filed 2018-12, 194,500 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    Gear shifter stuck in park

    • 140 complaints (11%)
    • median 84,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (127 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $450 (median of 17 quotes)
    • filed 2007–2022

    Owners describe being unable to move the floor shifter out of park after starting the car, leaving the vehicle stuck where it sits. In some reports the shifter would not respond when trying to select park to shut the engine off, and drivers used neutral plus the parking brake instead. Complaints note the dealer or manufacturer sometimes said the vehicle was not covered by the related recall. Reported from roughly 68,000 to 78,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

    Recall 08V583000

    What to check: With the engine running, cycle the shifter through every gear several times and confirm it releases from park smoothly; ask whether the shifter cable or bracket has been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My car have mis fire cylinder 1 it shakes when it cold then after a while it goes away,transmission driving bad out of no where going only 30 miles the fastest in my car stuck in park.”

    NHTSA complaint #10523428, filed 2013-07, 70,000 miles

    “1-fuel system after filling up will choke itself out at slow speeds or idling-2-engine cuts out going 40-80 MPH jerks and cuts off and back on sometimes engine light comes on and other times not 3- issues with turning car completely off have to put back into gear then park again to turn off 4- at times when putting into park my brake light comes on. I thought I did good on this car but now I'm beginning to think I'm in over my head all of this happens on average every other day. One or all things happen intermediate.”

    NHTSA complaint #11329563, filed 2020-06, 70,000 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Headlights and dash lights flicker or cut out

    • 63 complaints (5%)
    • median 88,500 mi at 9.0 yrs old (58 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2007–2025

    Owners report headlights and instrument lighting flickering or turning off while driving, sometimes with gauges sweeping up and down. Some say replacing the headlight switch did not solve it, and one report describes the dealer being unable to reproduce the intermittent fault. Complaints also mention the car failing to start until a second attempt or shutting off from a stop. Reported between roughly 85,000 and 126,000 miles, typically while driving or immediately after starting.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check that all exterior lights and dash lights work steadily, wiggle the headlight switch and stalk, and ask whether the door modules or ignition switch have been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving down the road and my lights turned off my headlights and dash lights had to hold my brights on because they wouldnt stay on by themselves, my dash speedometers had kept going up and down as if my car was dying almost hit a deer due to no headlights and driving at night.”

    NHTSA complaint #11299669, filed 2020-01, 126,347 miles

    “When driving the car it will randomly turn off and then come back on with out having to restart it. It's like if you were to turn a light switch on and then off again, it's that quick. I'm talking about everything shuts down, the lights the radio the gauges everything and then sometimes it comes right back on. There has been some occasions where it doesn't come back on tho.”

    NHTSA complaint #11395924, filed 2021-02, 71,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic check fuel and ignition behavior right after a fill-up and verify recall completion for the airbag inflators and, if applicable, the shifter linkage. Service records showing how the car has behaved at higher mileage are worth more than a short test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 1,294 consumer complaints for the 2006 Dodge Charger. 1,079 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,475 miles. Of all complaints, 21 involved a crash, 12 a fire, 28 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 61 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (27), Exterior lighting (20), Electronic stability control (16), Tires (9), Wheels (9), Equipment (8), Body and structure (7), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (7), Interior lighting (3), Seat belts (3), Latches, locks and linkages (2).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Car continues to stall at low speed, stop sign, light, etc. Im very cautious when I turn onto traffic for fear of car stalling and me getting hit. Had it to numerous mechanics and no one can pin point it. Usually stalls out 5-10 times on way to and from work everyday. I live about 4 miles from my job.”

NHTSA complaint #11378028, filed 2020-12, 82,000 miles

Engine: “I have 2 problems. First while driving all my warning lights will flash on then go right off. Another problem I have is my car will turn over and sometimes start but die immediately. Once I get it started it will go fine for a while before doing it again. By the looks of my research both problems are pretty common in 2006 chargers.”

NHTSA complaint #11279224, filed 2019-11, 194,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Turning onto on-ramp of a highway I was moving about 20 miles an hour when the engine died and I lost power steering. Additionally, I felt a very tough transmission shift 2-3 seconds before I lost power steering and when the engine died. The car took multiple attempts to turn over. A very loud whirring noise began in the engine/transmission area and is yet to stop.”

NHTSA complaint #11252503, filed 2019-08, 160,000 miles

Electrical system: “My car shuts off when sitting in traffic also car does not cut back on until after 3 tries its also shut off after u put gas in the car in stall at idle it also shuts down sometime while driving I have a daughter who is only 6 this is very dangerous for call to shut off in traffic I'm scared don't no what to do or why I'm have in this problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10701547, filed 2015-03, 208,456 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 1,079 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 108,000 miles.

7%0–106%10–2512%25–5017%50–7527%75–10022%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1,079 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 80,475 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’05’08’11’14248’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Dodge Charger. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Charger · sedan RWD/AWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Dodge Charger version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Charger RWD2.7L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182621$3,200
Charger RWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172420$3,350
Charger RWD5.7L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152318$3,700
Charger RWD6.1L 8-cyl5-speed automatic131815$5,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Dodge Charger → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 61 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 61 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge Charger

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20232619,00025180 · FewerToo new
20221611,0003518—Rising
20213547,50025180 · FewerRising
20205820,000351821 · FewerRising
201912010,100551950 · TypicalRising
201812228,750651949 · TypicalFalling
201712838,000451923 · FewerFalling
201618243,500551948 · TypicalFalling
201513654,0007—1942 · TypicalFalling
201434354,000952189 · MoreFalling
201336058,000852194 · MoreFalling
201264864,00014521100 · MoreFalling
201169559,50011—21100 · MoreFalling
201023277,6226—2071 · MoreFalling
200917470,6266—1963 · TypicalFalling
200860991,1475—2068 · MoreFalling
200755477,9725—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20061,29480,4755—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Dodge Charger model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge Charger?

Owners of this model year most often describe the car stalling or dying, frequently shortly after refueling, and often with no warning light. The issues reported most often: Stalls or dies after refueling; Random stalling and momentary power loss while driving; Gear shifter stuck in park.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Dodge Charger have?

NHTSA recorded 1,294 consumer complaints for the 2006 Dodge Charger as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Dodge Charger is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 516 complaints (40% of the total), followed by engine with 388.

Has the 2006 Dodge Charger been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Dodge Charger get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Dodge Charger (Charger, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Dodge Charger reported?

Among the 1,079 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,475 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 108,000 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.