Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Dodge Charger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while idling at the traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart on several occasions and was towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where DTC: U0100 and P0700 were retrieved. The dealer flashed the computer; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, were the same DTC were retrieved and the failure was related to a loss of communication with the PCM and the Transmission Control Module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,415.
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, he was unable to shift the gear shifter out of park(P). The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with Customer Satisfaction Number: K39. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
The transmission console shift lever stays in Park. The console shift lever will not go into Reverse. Sunday morning my wife was on her way to church and found that the Dodge Charger RT transmission would not go into reverse. I tried it and she was right. My concern is if this happened while in traffic the vehicle could be rear ended or could cause a traffic night mare. My wife was in New Hampshire as the driver of our car with three other ladies just prior to this problem. . She was about sixty miles away and if the transmission locked up there with the four of them they would have been stranded. The plastic shift lock out located in the console is a plastic piece and should be replaced with a metal or aluminum piece by a Recall or at least a Technical Bulletin. The following is the current vehicle replacement Shift Interlock Repair Kit P/N 68088259AB. …
I've owned this car a little over a month. I filled up the gas tank today, after leaving the gas station the car stalled in the middle of a busy intersection. thankfully no one was coming the opposite direction at the time before i could get the car restarted. at the next light it stalled again, and then was able to restart the car. i was able to pull into a parking lot to access any issues. nothing looked wrong visibly. while idling the car stalled again. i researched the issue and found other similar issues with this year and make of the car stalling after filling the tank. this is a huge safety issue as there was no warning and the car completely stalled and had no function. if cars were coming at me in the intersection or i was on the highway which was the next exit, it could have been worse for me and others on the road.
PCM/ECM failure during driving. Caused entire vehicle to shut off during speeds as little as 20 or as high as 70 mph. Severe safety issue and potential for critical component damage to other parts of the vehicle! Warning tone and lamps do not appear until after the incident happens. And it has been confirmed by 3 consecutive car shops and dealers. Happens repeatedly, day to day.
My 2006 Dodge Charger R/T HEMI 5.7 has experienced multiple breakdowns in my transmission. Come to find out it is actually a Mercedes Benz transmission. Replaced multiple times after getting towed multiple times for transmission going out. Totally unacceptable.
On 3/10/2023 my vehicle suddenly starting trembling and shaking profusely! It terrified me severely. I immediately called my mechanic and it was towed in to be repaired. I was told it needed a tune- up. Towing, 3-Direct Ignition coils replaced, 6-spark plugs replaced and 1- fuel injection plenum gasket set replaced. Four weeks later on 4/16/2023 a warning sign of a backwards meeting parenthesis with a lightening bolt between to the two backwards parenthesis showed up on my warning lamp-Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Indicator symbol; causing my vehicle on shake, jump and stall as I was driving on 29S heading toward 70W towards Baltimore to get home. I was able to drive to side of the road and my car completely stopped. A the horrific sounds of the traffic wizzed by me and my 12 year old child, I immediately called AAA, as we were in danger and severely terrified. …
Takata recall the suspension is shot. I am having to replace the my tires due to the bushings being junk and have ate my tires away on the inside down to the metal due to the toe positioning being incorrect. The control arms have been changed, but I am in fear the rear camber May be completely out. Also, sometimes my car does not want to turn over, but yet the battery, starter and alternator are fine. Also, my electrical system is a mess. I can't roll down my window unless I shut off my air or heat. Then when I turn on my air or heat all my interior lights go out. Plus, sometimes my tachometer doesn't want to work. I have replaced the engine and transmission, it is always maintained, but yet I feel like I am about to have to dump thousands of dollars into this cheaply made suspension. …
The car will shut off randomly, the error code keeps pointing back to the ECM and I have had that replaced now it is doing it again and there is no warning when it happens on the freeway it jolts like it wants to shutoff but it doesn't the RPM's go down and it revs back up, it started just with it having the RPM's go down and rev back up randomly and its been happening for 2 years now it just shuts off and starts back up immediately but sometimes ill drive a couple feet and it will die again. It has been in and out of the shop for the last 8 months. They have sent the computer back to have it analysed and to repair the new one I got now. When driving it also shuts off and then just starts up back by itself. I see this everywhere on the internet and forums, some say ECM needs to be replaced other say the fuel tank and the other says something about the key fob not recognizing the key. …
2006 Dodge charges with 5.7 Hemi v8 - experiencing random stalling. Happens at any speed. Everything shuts off including the power steering and ABS. First happened while merging onto freeway and I had to drive off the road to avoid a semi-truck. This happened with my young child in the vehicle. I had the gas tank, fuel canister, and purge valve replaced. The problem still occurs regardless of the amount of gas in the vehicle and regardless of when it was refueled. Even though this appears to be a common problem the dealership has been no help and even tried charging me for unnecessary diagnostics. Car does not flash a code so after replacing what was supposed to fix the issue, driving the vehicle is the only way to find out if it is fixed. This has lead to a few dangerous close calls. Please look into this issue before people get hurt because this is a serious problem. …
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
Chrysler is recalling 20,283 my 2006-2009 charger and magnum vehicles built with the police package and equipped with a column shifter. The gearshift cable May become disengaged from the steering column mounting bracket and cause an incorrect transmission gearshift position display.
Remedy: Dealers will add a redundant locking mechanism to the gearshift cable at the mounting bracket to ensure proper retention and shift linkage function. The recall began on November 10, 2008.
Power train › Automatic transmission
On certain pickup trucks, sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 42rle automatic transmissions, the cup plug that retains the park pawl anchor shaft May be improperly installed. If the shaft moves out of position, the vehicle May not be able to achieve 'park' position.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmissions and install a bracket to ensure the park pawl anchor shaft is retained in the proper position. The recall began on November 28, 2005.
Transmission complaints in other Charger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Dodge Charger?
NHTSA has 218 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Dodge Charger, 17% of the model year's 1,294 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Dodge Charger transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 08V-583 (column shift, Nov 6, 2008); NHTSA recall 05V-460 (automatic transmission, Oct 6, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Dodge Charger transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.