2006 Dodge RAM 3500 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 258 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 161,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the engine of the 2006 Dodge RAM 3500, 2% of the 258 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 161,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On the night of apr 16, 2019 it same like everyday I went home from work back up my truck in the driveway turn off and got in the house forgot my ipad went back out and get it ,back in the house went to take the shower and then five minutes later the truck burn down, the fire truck came they put out the fire, and I got the report said engine area, running gear, wheel area.”
NHTSA complaint #11202824, filed 2019-04, 189,000 miles“When purchased at the dealers driveway, idle dropped extremely low then surged, salesman said that was normal for diesels, drove from that dealership to home with same problems almost at every stop, took to dealership again, they changed fuel filter, no change, then changed fuel pump, no change, then said they think it might be injectors or fuel rails, I had enough asked for the keys they still made me pay $600 plus to remove the vehicle even though they couldn't find the problem, shortly after that I started getting alot of blow by from number 6 cylinder, the PCM stopped functioning…”
NHTSA complaint #10554163, filed 2013-11, 73,000 miles“The water pump split at the seam in the case. When the engine was running, the pump would spray out a powerful stream of hot radiator water. The radiator water would be completely drained from the system within 30 minutes if running the engine, but the water would only escape slowly if the engine was not running.”
NHTSA complaint #10477001, filed 2012-09, 78,000 miles“The contact owns a 2006 Dodge RAM 3500. The contact stated that while in the cabin, diesel exhaust could be smelled. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 183,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10490618, filed 2012-12, 183,000 milesEngine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 35 | 10% |
| 2011 | 21 | 9% |
| 2010 | 17 | 11% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 11 | 6% |
| 2007 | 17 | 8% |
| 2006 | 6 | 2% |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 1 | 0% |
| 2002 | 1 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
| 2000 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2006 Dodge RAM 3500
75 complaintsElectrical system
53 complaintsExterior lighting
44 complaintsAir bags
33 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsSuspension
20 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsTires
8 complaintsEngine cooling
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Dodge RAM 3500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology