Sell your 2006 Dodge Dakota for cash

The 2006 Dodge Dakota is a pickup truck that came with a choice of 3.7L 6-cyl and 4.7L 8-cyl engines. At 20 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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2006 Dodge Dakota at a glance

Body styleStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl
TransmissionsAutomatic 4-spd, Manual 6-spd, Automatic 5-spd
DriveRear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy13–15 city / 18–20 highway / 15–17 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$3,950–$4,450 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂523–592 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA8 configurations: Dakota Pickup 2WD, Dakota Pickup 4WD
Age20 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 20 years old, most of a 2006 Dakota's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a pickup truck, it's heavier than a typical car, and scrap weight is a big part of any junk offer. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2006 Dakota. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the air bags, typically around 90,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2006 Dodge Dakota recalls

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls covering the 2006 Dodge Dakota. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Air BagsMay 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V352000Park outside / do not drive

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. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…

Risk: 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. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurr

Air BagsMay 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V313000Park outside / do not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009…

Risk: 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.

Electrical SystemDec 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V795000

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Dakota, and 2006 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006 with manual transmissions. The return springs in the clutch ignition interlock switch may break.

Risk: Broken springs can result in a no-start condition, or cause unintended movement when the ignition is cranked, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Service Brakes, HydraulicFeb 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V038000

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 certain braking conditions.

Risk: This could result in a loss of vehicle control and cause a crash without warning.

VisibilityFeb 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V039000

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.

Risk: This can impair the driver's vision and result in a crash.

Common 2006 Dakota problems

Owners have filed 285 complaints about the 2006 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA. 23 reports involved a crash and 7 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 17 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Air Bags122
  • Steering44
  • Electrical System29
  • Power Train26
  • Suspension15
  • Power Train11

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Air Bags90,000 mi
  • Steering55,000 mi
  • Electrical System70,000 mi
  • Power Train68,000 mi
  • Suspension48,000 mi
  • Power Train21,000 mi

2006 Dodge Dakota crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Dodge Dakota, by version tested.

VersionOverallFrontal crashSide crashRolloverRollover risk
2 Dr, RWD/AWDNot rated——★★★★☆17.9%
4 Dr, RWD/AWDNot rated——★★★★☆17.9%

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP). Ratings from different model years or rating systems aren't directly comparable.

2006 Dodge Dakota service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 54 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2006 Dodge Dakota. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Equipment10
  • Engine and Engine Cooling8
  • Power Train8
  • Structure5
  • Power Train4
  • Electrical System3

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsOct 2024 · 101232

    Plate - Planetary

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2021 · 9004009

    Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed durin

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMar 2021 · 9004350

    GEAR MOTOR, Transfer Case The gear motor assembly is shipped in AWD/2WD position. The transfer case needs to be positioned in AWD/2WD position to properly assemble gear m

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMar 2021 · 9004350

    GEAR MOTOR, Transfer Case The gear motor assembly is shipped in AWD/2WD position. The transfer case needs to be positioned in AWD/2WD position to properly assemble gear m

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 5 defect investigations covering the 2006 Dodge Dakota.

Air BagsEA21002 · opened Sep 2021, open

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to

Air BagsEA15001 · opened Feb 2015, openLed to recall 14V668

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were

Air BagsPE14016 · opened Jun 2014, closed Mar 2015Led to recall 13V172000

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were

Electrical SystemPE14013 · opened May 2014, closed Dec 2014Led to recall 14V795000

Clutch Interlock Switch Malfunction

On December 16, 2104, Chrysler Group LLC submitted a Safety Recall Report to NHTSA describing a defect in the clutch ignition interlock switches in approximately 66,819 model year (MY) 2006 through early-2007 Dodge Ram Trucks, Dodge Dakota, and Mitsubishi Raider vehicles equipped with manual transmissions and built bet

SteeringEA06004 · opened Mar 2006, open

Steering wheel and steering shaft bolts

On march 9, 2006 odi upgraded preliminatry evaluation pe05-056 to engineerning analysis ea06-004 to investigate allegations of loose or missing steering shaft coupling bolts and steering column retaining bolts in model year (my) 2004 through 2006 Dodge durango sport utility vehicles and my 2005 through 2006 Dodge dakot

Other Dodge Dakota years

‹ Sell a 2005 Dakota · Sell a 2007 Dakota › · All Dodge Dakota years

Other 2006 Dodge models

Selling a 2006 Dakota: questions

How much is a 2006 Dodge Dakota worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2006 Dakota that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2006 Dakotas that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2006 Dakota with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2006 Dodge Dakota; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2006 Dakota?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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