2006 Dodge Dakota Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

44Steering complaints

15.5%Of all 283 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS121 · 42.8%

STEERING44 · 15.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29 · 10.2%

POWER TRAIN26 · 9.2%

SUSPENSION15 · 5.3%

Share of the 283 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2006 Dodge Dakota overview page.

What owners report

“HARD STEERING. STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT WHEN DRIVING.”NHTSA complaint 10608654 — filed 07/07/2014

“WE WERE DRIVING DOWN HWY I-5 IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON. MY HUSBANDS KNEE BUMPED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENED…”NHTSA complaint 10604264 — filed 06/18/2014

“WAS TRAVELING DOWN A REGULAR ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND THEN ALTERNATELY A LITTLE WHILE LATER BECAME VERY LOOSE CAUSING OVER…”NHTSA complaint 10587331 — filed 05/08/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Dodge Dakota have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2006 Dodge Dakota: 44 of 283 complaints on file (15.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2006 Dodge Dakota have in total?

283 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 22 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.