Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air conditioning unit would jam when an attempt was made to switch the unit to or from defrost. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the blend door actuator and the unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also referenced NHTSA campaign number: 09V158000 (visibility), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. Updated 04/04/16
Truck was involved in pass side front crash, resulting in pass wheel separating from truck, since truck was repaired heater deflector does not work correctly to blow heat and or defrost correctly, ins wants proof it happened in accident. No inside of truck damaged dealer say can not prove. Deflector broke during collision with tree, was working before accident, maybe deployment of airbag caused there is a problem with deflectors now windows ae steaming up vision is impaired, and no heat on feet are, very dangerous situation.
The problem started in 2009. Went to drive the truck and could not get the truck to drive over 20 MPH. Was able to get it to a dealer close by and had to have the throttle body positioning sensor replaced. Since that date I have had to have this same sensor changed 8 more times. Each time the private mechanic talks to Chrysler and they recognize there is a faulty problem with this part and will not recall the item. When this sensor goes out it will not let you drive more than about 20mph. Also had to replace the accelerated pedal positioning sensor 4 times. Blinker problems noted by many other consumers I have also had. Where you turn on the left blinker and the right blinker comes on. As well as the A/C problem many consumers have mentioned the door breaks and then all you have is outside air coming in. …
While driving on the interstate a few weeks ago, my windshield fogged over. Unbeknownst to me the recirculation door on my '06 Dodge Ram 1500 truck had broken. Because the broken door blocked the airflow for the defroster, I could not clear the fog from the windshield. I was extremely lucky that I was able to roll the driver's side window down in time to keep from rear-ending the car in front of me. When I took the truck to the local Dodge dealer, they indicated that this is a very common problem for certain Ram trucks. As a matter of fact, the dealer also said that they keep the "newly designed" housings in stock to ensure that they can meet the demand for the repairs.
The heater in my truck does not blow in the direction that the control knob is directing it to. This is an ongoing problem according to carcomplaint.com with this make, model and year. I had it repaired on 03/02/2010 at a cost of almost 800.00 dollars. The problem has returned again on 11/14/2010. In order to repair the problem the vent deflector door must be replaced, which involves removing the entire dash. That is what I'm told by the dealer. My windows fog up while driving and the driver cannot change the direction of the airflow, the floor will get ice cold, all at unknown times......please look into this issue.
The A/C won't blow on 1, 2 or 3, only on high and I've heard this from other owners who own the Dodge Ram bighorn. Our vehicle s a 2006 with only 33,690 which we just purchased from the Dodge dealership located in merritt island florida. We purchased this vehicle 5 days ago and the A/C was working fine, pulled up in our driveway last night and just stopped working. My husband went through the low to high settings and the only setting it will work on is high. In researching this on the internet, we've seen this complaint on this vehicle over and over. Has Dodge put out a recall on this model yet?
Tl contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the heating and air conditioning system has malfunctioned. The blend door broke that the controls the air flow. The dealer informed the contact that there was not a problem with the case door and that the manufacturer will not be responsible for the repairs. The contact is concerned about the safety risks since this the case door controls the defroster and is impossible for the contact to see out of the windows when the defroster malfunctions. The failure mileage was 55,000. Updated 2/1/10 updated 02/02/10.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact heard a grumbling noise and the air conditioner stopped working. The dealer stated that a piece of the air conditioning unit fell into the fans and caused more damage to the unit. The repairs were made under warranty. A year later, the contact heard the exact same noise as before and, shortly after, the air conditioning unit failed. The dealer stated that the repairs could be performed at the estimated cost of $800 because the warranty expired. The failure mileage was 31,000 and current mileage was 52,000.
The defrost portion of the HVAC unit does not work and has only worked intermitantly for several years. At first I could not get any air on the feet position, but thought this was just low air flow. The defrost now does not work and doesnt matter what position I have the unit on, floor, defrost etc. This to me is a safety issue and I see numerous complaints regarding the same issue. I dont believe it has ever worked properly. When you need the defrost, it is usually out of concern for visility. This is a safety concern for many other Ram owners.
Recirculation door on heating/cooling system broke off inside duct work and was resting on the blower fan of 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 2x2 mega cab. Cannot use defrost mode because broken door is restricting air flow. Seems to be a common problem with 2003-2008 Dodge Ram trucks. Truck has 65,000 mile and is out of warranty. Dealer wants 1,200.00 dollars to repair. I had another policy that covered the whole cost of repair. Policy runs out 2013 or 125,000 miles which ever comes first. Love my truck though!
AC & Heater complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are ac & heater problems on the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the a/c & heater of the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, 3% of the model year's 792 complaints. The component named most often is defroster/defogger/hvac system (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 ac & heater problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to a/c & heater problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.