CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON TO SEE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER. THE SIDE AIRBAG INFLATABLE CURTAIN (SABIC) ON ABOUT 4200 MY 2005-2007 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY SIDE IMPACT TEST. THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER MODULE WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Dodge Dakota airbags problems
critical 116 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
116
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
16crashes
1fire
13injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 116 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Dodge Dakota, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 41% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 116 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two distinct problems. First, several frontal collisions at moderate speeds (28–65 mph) resulted in no airbag deployment, leaving occupants to absorb impact and sustain injuries including traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, broken eye sockets, concussions, and back or neck trauma. Vehicles were totaled. One crash report noted that impact broke the radiator support structure where airbag sensors were mounted, shifting engine components forward—a structural failure, not a sensor malfunction per se.
Second, the Takata inflator recall (NHTSA 15V313000 and 16V352000) issued in 2015–2016 has left roughly 50 owners waiting 18+ months for replacement parts with no delivery date. Dealers confirm parts are unavailable; manufacturers cannot estimate arrival. One owner waited over a year for the driver-side fix, then faced the same delay for passenger-side. FCA notified owners parts were available, but dealerships reported they cannot order them. One dealer disabled the passenger airbag function rather than complete the replacement, citing dashboard removal risk. After some repairs were completed, warning lights remained illuminated and unresolvable, suggesting incomplete electrical or module correction. The recall remedy itself remains stalled.
Same Dodge Dakota airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags failed to deploy in frontal collisions
Multiple owners report frontal crashes at speeds ranging from 28–65 mph where driver and/or passenger airbags did not deploy. Owners sustained injuries ranging from minor (no mention) to severe (traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, broken eye socket, crushed bladder, head injuries requiring hospitalization, back/neck injuries, concussion).
When: At impact; mileages reported 22,000–206,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on impact; Frontal collision (rear-end or head-on at 28–65 mph); Occupant injuries without restraint
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented for non-deployment failures. Vehicles were totaled or towed. One complaint noted sensors secured with two screws to radiator support members that broke on impact, shifting engine components forward.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls specifically for non-deployment failures mentioned. Two complaints reference prior Takata airbag inflator replacements (NHTSA 15V313000, 16V352000) before the crash occurred, suggesting possible incomplete or incorrect repair.
Takata airbag inflator recall—parts unavailable; prolonged delays
Approximately 50+ owners received recall notifications (NHTSA 15V313000 for driver-side, 16V352000 for passenger-side Takata inflators) but reported replacement parts were unavailable for months or years. Dealers confirmed no parts in stock, no delivery date estimates, and manufacturers could not specify when parts would arrive. Owners waited 6+ months to over 18 months with no resolution.
When: Recall issued 2015–2016; owners reported waiting from mid-2015 through 2017 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received; Dealer unable to schedule repair—parts on backorder; No estimated availability date; Manufacturer unable to confirm part delivery timeline
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15V313000, NHTSA 16V352000
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed due to parts shortage. One owner reported waiting over one year for driver-side inflator, then faced same delay for passenger-side. One dealer allocated only 7 airbags per week. FCA sent letters stating parts available, but dealerships could not obtain or order them.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V313000 (driver-side Takata inflator replacement); NHTSA Campaign 16V352000 (passenger-side Takata inflator replacement). Takata Settlement Notice issued to some owners. No timeline enforcement evident.
Recall repair incomplete or improperly executed
Owners reported that after recall repair (inflator replacement), subsequent problems emerged: airbag warning lights illuminated and remained on, or dealers discovered VINs not actually eligible after repair, or dashboard damage occurred during removal and was not corrected. One dealer disabled passenger-side airbag function rather than replace the inflator due to dashboard risk.
When: Post-repair; mileage ~123,000–177,000
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated after recall inflator replacement; Warning light not resolvable by simple inflator swap; VIN not included in recall despite notification; Dashboard damage discovered during repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced inflator but warning light persisted; another dealer confirmed that inflator replacement alone should clear the light, implying underlying electrical or module issue not addressed. One dealer disabled passenger airbag rather than complete replacement due to dashboard removal risk.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA 15V313000, 16V352000. No corrective action or follow-up documented.
Synthesized from 116 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not…
Passenger airbag was turned on but didn't deploy, did not have seatbelt on because it broke but all others in the accident had theirs on. Driver was driving normal and a truck coming opposite way hit a truck three truck length ahead spun out of control and hit our vehicle head on.*dt consumer has stated she has head trauma.*jb*jb *dt*dt*jb *dt*jb*dt*jb*dt*jb*dt*jb*dt*dt*dt*dt*jb*as*dt *tr
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15v313000 (air bags) and 16v352000 (air bags). The parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was contacted (mac haik flowood Chrysler Dodge in flowood, ms,…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v3521000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Dodge dakota. The contact stated that the dealer (crown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram greensboro, 3710 w wendover ave, greensboro, nc 27407, (336) 790-9850) failed to remedy both recalls within a reasonable time frame. Once the part became available, the dealer scheduled an appointment to replace the front driver and passenger side air bag inflators. The…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts…
Takata recall replacement parts still not available. I cannot use my truck with anyone in the passenger seat.
Takata recall. Several months ago we received the notice that the passenger side front airbag had to be replaced. We took it to the dealer and was told the parts weren't in, and they would call us in the fall. We did call them and was told the parts were still not in. We are concerned that we have been driving around with a defective airbag for a long time now. Our dealer is in littleton, n.h.…
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Dodge Dakota?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2006 Dodge Dakota?
It's a serious issue. 116 complaints have been filed, including 16 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 49,000 and 123,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 49,000; a quarter make it past 123,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Dodge/Dakota.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.