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 motor to T-Case. Please reference Star Online publication S2121000003 for further details. Do not have the transfer case in in another position other than AWD/2WD and rotate the motor to align the bolt holes as this could result in damage to the gear motor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Dodge Durango engine problems
moderate 46 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 46 engine complaints filed for the 2006 Dodge Durango, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 46 engine 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.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
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 motor to T-Case. Please reference Star Online publication S2121000003 for further details. Do not have the transfer case in in another position other than AWD/2WD and rotate the motor to align the bolt holes as this could result in damage to the gear motor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service - Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies to Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L engines only. Installation: 1. Clean the oil pan T-joints.~ 2. Fill the T-joint between the pan rail/gear housing and pan rail/rear seal retainer with sealant. Use Mopar® Silicone Rubber Adhesive Sealant or equivalent. 3. Apply a 2-mm [0.063-in] bead of Mopar Engine Sealant RTV Silicone Rubber Adhesive, to the oil pan flange.~ 4. The four piece gasket will need to be assembled to make a complete oil pan gasket. 5. Lay the oil pan gasket(s) onto the oil pan flange.~ 6. Ensure the oil pan gask
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NAG1 (5A580) Valve Body As per Warranty Bulletin D-13-22, please use R2108213A$ valve body for all Warranty (W), Mopar (M) and Mopar Vehicle Protection (F) claims.~ Assembly also includes Filter (52108325AA) and Gasket (52108332AA).~
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Engine stalling is the dominant complaint. It happens without warning at any speed—stops, turns, highway cruising—sometimes in rain, sometimes in dry weather. Owners lose power steering in the moment but the engine restarts immediately. Dealers and independent shops struggle to find a cause. PCM flashes, fuel system cleanings, and sensor replacements (camshaft, crankshaft, throttle position) don't stop the stalling.
Water intrusion is a proven culprit. Water drips from the cowl below the windshield wipers onto the air intake, causing hydro-lock and stalling around 100k miles when weather stripping fails. Dodge acknowledges this design flaw and sells replacement cowl part #55362453AK but issues no bulletin and some owners report stalling continues after replacement.
Exhaust manifold bolts corrode and snap routinely, even on low-mileage vehicles in normal use. Dealers call it common; Chrysler calls it normal wear and won't recall it. Drilling out broken fasteners costs $1,400 or more.
Misfires, rough idle, and RPM swings plague many units. Spark plugs and coils corrode—water on ignition components again. One police department replaced a cam sensor five times on their 2006. Engine knock, sludge, and thrown rods appear on higher-mileage examples. Fuel system overflow when refueling is another recurring nuisance.
Same Dodge Durango engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling without warning
Engine shuts off unexpectedly while driving at various speeds, sometimes during turns or acceleration, sometimes at stops. Owner regains control after restart but loses power steering in the moment. Occurs on wet days and dry days with no pattern. Check engine light may or may not illuminate.
When: Throughout ownership; some owners report it starting after 50k miles, others up to 170k miles. Worse in rain.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown without warning; Loss of power steering during stall; Vehicle restarts immediately after stalling; Check engine light may illuminate; RPM drop below normal before stall; Occurs at stops, turns, acceleration, highway speeds
Codes mentioned: P0128, P0300, P0400
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer and independent mechanics unable to reliably diagnose. Multiple owner visits to dealers with no resolution. Fuel system cleanings, throttle body service, and PCM flashes performed without lasting effect. Camshaft and crankshaft sensor replacements attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge/Chrysler acknowledges problem on chat forums but states no fix available. No recall issued as of complaint dates. One owner reports mechanic says 'Dodge knows about it but there has been no recall.'
Water intrusion causing engine stalling
Faulty cowl design below windshield wipers allows rainwater to drip onto air intake, causing engine to hydro-lock and stall. Problem typically appears around 100k miles when weather stripping fails. Dodge offers replacement updated cowl part #55362453AK but no bulletin issued. Engine can be waterlogged and blow a rod on restart.
When: Around 100,000 miles; typically in rainy conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls during rain or wet weather; Sputtering before stall; Water observed dripping on air intake; Vehicle stalls at highway speeds (up to 65 mph reported); Loss of power steering during stall; Engine restart possible after stall cools
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic inspection revealed water on air intake. Replacement cowl part #55362453AK available from Dodge. Labor and parts estimated in thousands. One owner reported stalling continued even after cowl replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge acknowledged design flaw when contacted directly. Offers replacement cowl part #55362453AK. No service bulletin issued for public awareness.
Exhaust manifold bolt/stud failure
Exhaust manifold bolts and studs break or deteriorate, causing exhaust leaks and heat shield detachment. Bolts crack and corrode on both driver and passenger sides. Chrysler considers this normal wear despite owners drilling out broken fasteners. Repair requires drilling out broken bolts from cylinder heads, costing $1,400 or more per dealer estimates.
When: As early as 40,000 miles; reported at 119,000 miles. Occurs during normal everyday driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Ticking noise from engine on cold start; Exhaust leak visible; Heat shield detached; Broken bolts on passenger side; Deteriorated studs on driver side
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of broken bolts/studs, gaskets, and retainers. Drilling out broken bolts from cylinder heads necessary. One owner cited $1,400+ repair cost. Multiple reports of shops noting this as 'very common problem' for the model.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler states this is normal wear and refuses recall. No warranty coverage offered despite widespread pattern.
Engine misfire and coil/spark plug corrosion
Engine misfires, jerks, and hesitates during acceleration. Check engine light illuminates. Spark plugs crack and corrode. Multiple coils corrode and require replacement. Problem repeats even after repair. Owner suspects water intrusion from faulty cowl design affecting ignition components.
When: 2011-2012 on one vehicle; appears tied to water intrusion events
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on acceleration above 40 mph; Engine jerking and bucking; Repetitive misfiring; Corrosion on all 6 spark plugs; Multiple coils corroded
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes (specific codes not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Coil replaced and all 6 spark plugs changed due to cracking and corrosion in December 2011. Problem recurred in 2012 requiring replacement of multiple coils and all spark plugs again. Owner mentions need to replace all cylinders. Internet forums point to faulty cowl allowing water onto engine.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge bulletin mentions faulty cowl design per owner research.
Rough idle and RPM fluctuation
Engine idles rough at stops, dropping below normal idle speed and fluctuating between 450-550 RPM. Engine feels like it will stall but recovers. RPM surges from 1000 to 2000 RPM after cold start for 10-15 seconds. Problem worsens over time. One owner reports this on 5.7 HEMI at stops and during turns.
When: Reported progressively worsening at stops
Symptoms owners cite: Idle drops from ~700 RPM to below 500 RPM at stops; Rough idle fluctuation between 450-550 RPM; RPM surges 1000-2000 on cold start; Feels like stalling imminent; Worse when turning wheel; Adding throttle temporarily corrects to normal RPM
Codes mentioned: No codes found by dealer diagnostic
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to find or replicate problem despite seeing same symptoms during test drive. Vehicle held until fix available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirms Chrysler is aware of problem and has no fix available. Problem existed on 2004 and 2005 5.7 HEMI models and persists in 2006.
Sensor failures (camshaft, crankshaft, throttle position)
Camshaft sensors, crankshaft sensors, and throttle position sensors fail repeatedly. Diagnostic tools identify sensor faults triggering check engine light and rough running. Replacement does not resolve underlying stalling issue. Police department vehicle required 5 camshaft sensor replacements every few thousand miles.
When: Reported at various mileages from 64k to 151k miles. Recurring every few thousand miles in one police vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Engine runs rough; Stalling after sensor replacement; Recurring failures of same sensor type
Codes mentioned: Camshaft sensor code, Crankshaft sensor code, Throttle position sensor code, Electronic stability control sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft sensors, crankshaft sensors, and throttle position sensors replaced. Ignition switch replaced in one case. Parts reported on back order, suggesting widespread failure pattern. Repairs do not resolve stalling.
Engine knock and internal damage
Loud knocking noise from engine at highway speeds indicates lifter or spring failure. One owner experienced banging noise and loss of acceleration at 60 mph; mechanic found sludge in engine and thrown rod requiring engine replacement.
When: At 135,000 miles (knock); at 170,000 miles (rod failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking noise from engine; Sudden loss of acceleration power; Banging noise; Engine sludge buildup
Repairs/costs cited: Lifter or spring failure identified in one case. Rod thrown in another case, requiring full engine replacement. Sludge found in engine.
Fuel system overflow
Fuel overflows when refueling to full capacity, splashing onto ground and owner's clothing. Problem persists after fuel cap replacement.
When: Multiple incidents reported
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel spews out during refueling; Overflow occurs at full tank; Persistent even after fuel cap change
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel cap replacement attempted without success. Vehicle not repaired.
No-start and transmission engagement issues
Vehicle fails to start or starts intermittently. When started, may not go into gear and continues running after key removal. Connector rod failure reported requiring engine replacement.
When: At 76,000 miles (rod failure); at 28,000 miles (electrical issue)
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to start; Does not engage into gear after starting; Vehicle continues running after key removal; Accelerates on its own
Repairs/costs cited: Connector rod failed; engine replaced. Electrical system campaign (07V092000) applied to one vehicle without correcting failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer agreed with dealer that no failure existed on one vehicle and would not assist. Campaign 07V092000 applied without resolving issue.
Engine fire
Vehicle caught fire while parked, with front end completely engulfed in flames. Fire department extinguished fire. Front end charred and burned out.
When: At 253,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete front-end fire while parked; Front end charred and burned out
Repairs/costs cited: Owner told to arrange own towing.
Ignition switch and steering lock issues
Ignition switch locks up frequently or fails to turn to on position. Steering wheel locks during turns at low speed, accompanied by engine stall and illumination of engine and airbag lights. Occurs intermittently.
When: Intermittent occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Ignition switch stuck or locked; Steering wheel locks during turns; Engine stalls during turn; Engine and airbag warning lights illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose problem.
Synthesized from 46 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Exhaust started ticking and upon investigating found 2 rear manifold bolts broken off allowing exhaust fumes to leak into engine compartment. Talked to Dodge dealer and found it is a very common problem and very expensive to repair. *kb
Had engine trouble with your 2006 Dodge Durango?
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 engine problem on the 2006 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 46 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 42 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 49,600 and 119,000 miles, with the median around 84,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 49,600; a quarter make it past 119,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/Durango.
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.