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Dodge MagnumModel year report

2006 Dodge Magnum Problems

Complaints
321filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
80,000miles, 253 complaints with mileage
Recalls
52 do-not-drive
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher 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 / 25 hwy

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

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine stalling shortly after a fuel tank fill-up, a pattern that appears across a wide range of mileage. Complaints also describe the column shifter getting stuck in Park, transmission shift and torque converter problems, and air bag warning lights or inflator recall notices. Many reports come from vehicles between about 50,000 and 120,000 miles.

  1. Fuel system

    Engine stalls right after refueling

    • 116 complaints (36%)
    • median 80,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (110 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,553 (median of 8 quotes)
    • filed 2008–2024

    Owners describe the engine hesitating, bucking or shutting off within a few miles of filling the tank, sometimes repeatedly in traffic and occasionally needing several attempts to restart. Several say the problem clears up once roughly half the tank is used, and some avoid filling completely to keep the car running. Complaints mention the fuel tank and its internal valve as the suspected source; dealers quoted fuel tank replacement in some cases, while other owners were told the vehicle could not be diagnosed or was not covered. Reported from about 35,000 to 170,000 miles, with many reports in the 45,000-110,000 mile range and no clear seasonal pattern.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank has been replaced and whether any lifetime warranty extension applies to the vehicle. On a test drive, fill the tank completely and note any hesitation, stumble or stall shortly afterwards.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Here we are 15 months later and only 2,330 miles from my last complaint about my 2006 Dodge Magnum stalling after a fuel fill up or when turning left, it happened yet again today, I know there is a current fuel tank recall for 2005 - 2006 Dodge charger, Magnum & chrysler 300's with the v8 5.7l & 6.1l, yet nothing for the v6 2.7l & 3.5l, why? …”

    NHTSA complaint #11396104, filed 2021-02, 76,233 miles

    “After filling my car and driving on the 710 freeway, while getting on the freeway the car just stalled. The steering got hard to turn as the vehicle was stalled. I managed to cruise to the side of the road and got the vehicle to start again. While driving it did it 2 more times until my gas started to go down. This happens almost every time I fill up the vehicle.”

    NHTSA complaint #10563635, filed 2014-02, 56,000 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Shifter stuck in Park

    • 36 complaints (11%)
    • median 81,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (33 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2023

    Complaints describe the column shifter refusing to move out of Park after starting the vehicle, leaving the car undriveable until it is towed or repaired. Owners mention a broken column shift component and an interlock lever inside the shifter as the parts replaced. In some reports the manufacturer said the vehicle was not covered by the column shift recall. Mostly between about 45,000 and 105,000 miles, reported after the vehicle had been parked or started.

    Recall 08V583000

    What to check: With the engine running, move the shifter through every gear from Park and back a few times. Ask whether the column shift cable or interlock lever has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My shifter will not go out of park. Im stranded. Transmission shifter interlock lever. Ive been on line most of the day and beyond complaints on this one. I am a 55 year old woman and can not rig it to drive like all the men in videos. It is a pink plastic part that was originally put in the car and now everyone is have to buy new ones that are metal. There needs to be a recall asap.”

    NHTSA complaint #11122435, filed 2018-08, 91,000 miles

    “The vehicle was unable to shift from park into any other gear. The dealer advised me to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. The current and failure mileage was 102,000. Bw”

    NHTSA complaint #10415327, filed 2011-07, 102,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Engine misfire, internal damage and stalling

    • 88 complaints (27%)
    • median 80,214 mi at 7.9 yrs old (81 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $2,170 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2006–2025

    Complaints describe misfiring, hesitation and the engine cutting off while driving, with ignition coils replaced but the loss of power returning. Other owners report a loud rattling noise, plugs found bent, and low compression or a broken timing chain leading to engine replacement. Several note maintenance was kept up, and dealers in some cases could not identify the cause. Spread from about 48,000 to 135,000 miles, with several reports near 80,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Listen for rattling at cold start and watch for a check engine light. Ask for compression or leak-down test results if any misfire codes have been stored, and check oil change records.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 2006 Dodge Magnum r / t v8 5.7lts. On july 24, 2015 I was using my car as usual, I went to the bank, I went to turn off the vehicle mail when I return to my car I'll lights on and the engine failing with an internal noise. I turn off the engine immediately, I call my mechanic and tells me to call a tow truck and to take the vehicle. When the mechanic check the car informs me that he will open the motor. When you open the engine informs me damage a valve seat and it had damaged the piston. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10885178, filed 2016-07, 60,000 miles

    “I started having problems with my 2006 Magnum srt8 this past winter. With absolutely no warning while driving approximately 10 MPH in drive, the engine cutoff and lost all power completely. I also lost all power steering and power brakes. Thank goodness I was on a back road. All of the warning lights flashed on and off and then the check engine light came on. I had to put the car back in park, completely turn off the ignition and restart the car. It restarted without any problems. I drove a few more miles and the exact same thing happened. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10509942, filed 2013-04, 63,053 miles
  4. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission shudder, harsh shifts, delayed engagement

    • 82 complaints (26%)
    • median 77,669 mi at 6.3 yrs old (73 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $995 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2006–2025

    Owners describe rough or delayed 1-2 upshifts, surging between certain rpm ranges, and the transmission holding a high gear when pulling away from a stop. Some reports mention hesitation when accelerating from a standstill and a delay before the transmission engages after a restart, plus a torque converter replacement. Dealers performed transmission service or diagnostic work, and in one case the failure was attributed to fluid entering through the dipstick tube. Reported from roughly 21,000 to 130,000 miles, often appearing around the 60,000-mile transmission service interval.

    Recall 05V4600003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive from cold and note shift quality on light acceleration and any delay engaging Drive or Reverse. Ask about transmission fluid and filter service history and whether the dipstick tube seal has been checked.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The vehicle surges between 1500-3500 RPM's and sometimes at idle. The problem comes and goes and is often accompanied by problems with the transmission shifting. Somethimes at a stop the trans will not down shift and when I accelerate again it is stuck in a high gear which has many times caused me to be put in danger while pulling into traffic, the car won't accelerate to speed properly. It is unerving to never know if it will drive properly without shifting or surging problems. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10170854, filed 2006-10, 21,000 miles

    “I filled the gas tank up, got in car and when I was merging on freeway car jerked several times and died. I was almost hit by multiple cars. Got car into neutral was able to restart but it died several more times. Now every time I fill it up the car dies in traffic at speed. I am afraid to drive it. The dealer says it is a faulty fuel tank but will not warranty the repair. I have done research and have found several forums with many people having this same issue with the Dodge Magnum and chrysler 300. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10525853, filed 2013-07, 38,126 miles

Buying note. Because the post-refuel stalling pattern appears so often in these complaints, a full-tank test drive and a question about fuel tank replacement history are worthwhile. Also confirm the air bag inflator recalls were completed and check how the transmission shifts from a cold start.

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 321 consumer complaints for the 2006 Dodge Magnum. 253 of the complaints include a mileage, and 23% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 16 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 14 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 64 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: Exterior lighting (6), Vehicle speed control (6), Body and structure (5), Tires (4), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (4), Wheels (3), Equipment (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Seat belts (2), Interior lighting (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “This has happened two times since owning the car only 2 weeks. Both times when we filled up at a gas station, the car would stall several times immediately after leaving the gas station and getting up to speed or at speed. The car would stop in the middle of traffic, and would always restart when put in park, but this causes a safety situation if we are turning, entering a freeway, etc.”

NHTSA complaint #10957266, filed 2017-02, 123,000 miles

Engine: “My car (2006 Dodge Magnum 5.7 hemi)was running totally fine.... No warnings of any kind. I turned it off to run into the gym and it wouldn't start. A diagnostic test was run and they said the piston blew and it needs a new engine”

NHTSA complaint #11221544, filed 2019-06, 183,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Engine stalls every time fuel tank is filled. Typically occurs at an idle immediately after fillup. Leaves me stranded in traffic and has caused several near miss accidents due to stalling at low speed, or acceleration from a low speed. Has stalled while pulling out into traffic, causing people to swerve out of my way almost causing several collisions.”

NHTSA complaint #10551208, filed 2013-11, 134,000 miles

Air bags: “I read in local newspaper of recall on our automobile concerning air bags made by takata corp. Our air bag was being recalled to replace air bag inflator because it could explode with too much force spewing shrapnel into passenger compartment. Six people have been killed and more than 100 injured! …”

NHTSA complaint #10726969, filed 2015-06, 101,005 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

23% of the 253 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,000 and 102,000 miles.

4%0–104%10–2515%25–5022%50–7526%75–10023%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (253 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 80,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’06’09’1264’15’18’22’25
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 Magnum. 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
Magnum · 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 Magnum 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
Magnum RWD2.7L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182621$3,200
Magnum RWD3.5L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172520$3,350
Magnum RWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172420$3,350
Magnum RWD5.7L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152318$3,700
Magnum RWD6.1L 8-cyl5-speed automatic131815$5,500
Magnum AWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic152218$3,700
Magnum AWD5.7L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152218$3,700

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 Magnum → · 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. 64 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 64 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge Magnum

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20089389,4375—20Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
200710869,0005—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200632180,0005—20Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200563870,0007—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

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

Frequently asked questions

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

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine stalling shortly after a fuel tank fill-up, a pattern that appears across a wide range of mileage. The issues reported most often: Engine stalls right after refueling; Shifter stuck in Park; Engine misfire, internal damage and stalling.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Dodge Magnum have?

NHTSA recorded 321 consumer complaints for the 2006 Dodge Magnum as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Fuel system is named most often, in 112 complaints (35% of the total), followed by engine with 85.

Has the 2006 Dodge Magnum 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 Magnum get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Dodge Magnum (Magnum, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 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 Magnum reported?

Among the 253 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 55,000 and 102,000 miles; 23% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.