Used 2006 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab Consumer Reviews
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Great Full Size Alternative
I bought this truck to downsize from an '03 1500 4x4 and have really not looked back. The gas mileage is so much better and that saves a lot of money. The only real difference is the bed space, but I rarely used all 8 ft. of my old bed anyway. The Dakota is very nimble, easy to park, and extremely quiet on the highway. I would recommend this truck to anyone that occasionaly needs a truck for hauling, but still needs comfort, economy, agility for everyday use. Probably not the best choice for the hardcore rancher with 12,000lbs. to pull, but a great choice for the active weekender. I am very happy with my purchase!
2006 dodge doakta st
I have 189,000 on my truck, it's an ok truck over all, the tranny went at 170,000 and the pcm went at 180,000 other than that it's an ok truck. It has the v6 3.7l And lacks power, exspcally when going up hills, it's good for long drives due to the comfort, rides like a car, overall it's a good truck.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- SLT Quad CabMSRP: $7,995166 mi away
- ST Club CabMSRP: $5,999172 mi away
- SLT Club CabMSRP: $12,495212 mi away
'06 V8 Has 92k No Rattles or Squeaks
I bought this truck used with 88k about 6 months ago. I did replace a front wheel bearing, but otherwise this truck performs like a champ! It has the smaller V8 and 6sp manual, a great combo for having fun and hauling a utility trailer. MPG is right a t 20 on the highway and 16-17 in the city. For an engine nearing 100k, that's right on the EPA mark. Interior is a bit bland, but everything is easy to read and easy to use. Power windows! Heated mirrors! I think those are my only options. The 4x4 system is older but highly effective. Braking is very adequate, very little fade even with rear drums and front discs. For 10g's, this was a really good buy.
impressive mpg
i dont know why other people are complaining this truck has a v8 4x4 add acts like it... it has a lot better mpg than my 2000 ranger 4x4 3.o v6 (never got above 18 mpg) dakota never gets below 19.3 mpg v8 highway.... its a truck you will never get 30 mpg so stop complaining it has excellent gas mileage for a truck...
Great truck
Traded in a Kia Rio for this wonderful truck. It has a very quiet ride and is very roomy. The interior is nice with some composite graphite on the dash and white tach with bold black letters. The lights glow blue on dash at night. The overall look of this truck is very nice. Dodge has one my family over.
just bought my third dakota.
great truck. i just traded in my 02 dakota sport quad cab 4x4 v8. for a 2006 dakota slt quad cab 4x4 v8. be for that a had a 95 sport 2wd. these trucks are tough. they can really take a beating. i live in wisconsin. we have rough winters. really wet rainy seasons. this truck can haddle any thing. i loved off roading in my 02. best 4x4 i have ever ownd. i pulled out some chevys. and a couple fords. this deer season. i highly recomend this truck if you do alot of out door activitys. or just want a good/safe winter vehical. very fun. very reliable. very powerfull. very best deal. none of the other compair. not even half of the full size trucks
Irmas Dakota
3 years old, only the plastic parking brake pull inside clip broke. glued on a metal L, drilled hole to match and good to go. ZERO problems. Running syntheic oil, getting 18-24 mpg from around town to 70-75 on open road. 3.7 OK, not same power as my 318 Ram Van but does well vs milage improvement. Love the truck, especially around town. Would get another in a minute. Wife will not let it go, loves 17" wheels for traffic and trailer towing package and posi-tracking make a big difference. Corners flat without a lean. Spend the little more then just standard, worth it. Dynamite sound system. Three part folding back cover is recommended for mpg and the Dodge heavy duty bed mat keeps back quiet
nice truck
bought truck new with 18 miles on it has 4.7L with towing setup I pull a 28 foot travel trailer 6300 lbs (loaded) w/no problem. Fuel mileage 15/19 city/hw,9/11 pulling trailer rear differential gasket replaced under warrenty @ 23000m, front bumper loose when purchased missing bolts , dependable truck for the money,unfortunatlly wife has taken it over she loves it
The jury's still out...
I bought a used '06 in '08. I wanted a V-6 for milage (traded in a Jeep Wrangler) but the V-6 is a dog. It won't get out of it's own way. The rear end is super light and on rain slicked roads you really need to watch the break away factor. That could also be because of the crappy Good Year tires the truck came with. I'll be upgrading the tires to Michelins very soon. Suspension is extremely soft and bouncy, almost like driving a '70's era Cadillac. The bed could be a few inches longer but it works for what I need. I can put my Suzuki RM in the back straight on with the gate down. The mpg is decent, not great, not bad. So far, I haven't had any mechanical issues.
Dakota
A good sturdy truck. I was impressed when I towed an 6 yd tandem dumping trailer. I hauled topsoil for a couple of days with this rig. Most people put tonneau covers on their trucks and they become cars with poor mileage. Use your Dodge for what it was made for and you will be impressed.
Great Truck, Quad w/ V8
Bought used, came off a lease, w/ 19000 miles. Preformance Dodge in Omaha went over the vehicle completely before it went off warranty and replaced some things that were going bad - they really treated me well - they take care of our Jeep Patriot too - great service dept. I really like the Dakota and it gets 16-18 mpg around town depending how much I use the a/c. The only thing you must do is get rid of the OEM shocks and replace w/ Rancho 5000's - they really settle it down - OEM are just to soft and cause some bounce, that I have seen others complain about. I've owned a lot of Jeeps (and if they made a truck I would have got that)my first Dodge - It's a keeper.
Strong truck
Solid truck all around, small ebough to drive everywhere, but as strong as full sized trucks. High output V8 has loads ow towing power. Gas mileage is average for a V8
Good, quality truck
Although I've only had my truck about 2 weeks, I am very pleased with it. Very comfortable and handles great. Extremely quiet for a V6. Good to have a CD player/AUX plug for MP3 and iPODS standard. Good gas mileage for a midsize (this is not a compact) pickup. Couldn't be happier riding around in the Texas heat!
My first new truck
Just drove 1250 miles nonstop, not a problem with driving comfort or performance. This is a great little truck. She could be a bit stronger in acceleration with the V6 engine.
Back on the Road
After driving for 3600 miles I was hit by a Peterbuilt truck in rush hour last June 19th. Just got back yesterday afyet numerous repairs from accident. This truck saved my life as If I was hit in my car I would be dead. Only frame damage was left rear rail which was pulled back on fram machine. Outstanding crash protection. I walked away with no injury.
Dodge Dakota - Drive the best!
I have owned Dodge Dakotas since 1991. I have seen the evolution of this truck. I now have the latest 2006 Quad Cab Sport SLT 4.7 high output. What stands out - Heavy duty truck! Very strong and stiff frame, solid sturdy cab and body. Braking is good. Great styling, very comfortable interior. Ram wheels bolt on for instant 20" look. What it lacks - fuel economy, H.O. 4.7 lacks power (compared to the old 5.2 & 5.9 & some V6's) yet has plenty of grunt with bolt on upgrades. Trans is slow to downshift. Body roll on higher speed cornering. Changing oil is messy. The oil drains onto the trans x-member and creates a 15 inch cascading mess. None-the-less, a very impressive truck. Solid.
Confused
I took over the lease on a crew cab Dakota 4x4 to help out a friend, and I hate it so much that it sits in the driveway. My other truck is an '05 Frontier SE crew cab, and there is no comparison between the Nissan and the Dodge. If the Dakota was $10,000 less expensive (instead of just cheaper) I'd give it some cred for offering a decent work truck to someone with a more modest income. If it sounded good and was fun to drive, I'd give it credit for power and handling, even lacking refinement as it does. But for the price, and knowing what Nissan and Toyota are offering, there's no way I'd buy this junk heap.Worst money I've ever spent on anything. Editor's Most Wanted?
BUY A V8 !
If you bought a V6 don't complian about power . You bought a v6 duh. The V8 screams and the only problem i have is getting traction to break inertia,
Good old all American work truck.
At 50k I replaced: tires the brake pads Ive installed K&N air filter and Bosch Platinum 4 spark plugs. About a month ago the cam shaft and the crank shaft sensors vent bad 400$, #2ingnition coil replacement was 35$. Belt replacement coming too. Paint is very sensitive. Body dents very easy. Factory speakers sounds like you have a bucket on them later upgraded with Infinity speakers now the whole door panel rattles.I have broken the parking brake release 18$ and once I have slammed the glove compartment door and the opening mechanism broke inside 50$. Idles a little rough. And the tranny are slow.I may going to have some problems with my differential. Highway I do 20mpg city about 15-16mpg.
Built Farm Tough
Bought this truck new in 2006, a great truck with around 180,000 miles on it. Had to have right tie rod replaced at 10,000 miles. This truck is a heavy off-road vehicle and a moderate highway driver. It is used to pull daily, with trailer loads up to 8500 lbs. This truck has taken a beating and yet still runs strong. It flooded over the 2008 summer and it sat halfway under water for 2 weeks. This is a true farm truck
New truck
I purchased a 2006 Dodge Dakota in Feb and have two thousand miles on it. I have noticed the manual shift shakes a lot if in high gear and hitting a bump. I have also noticed a lot of valve clatter if in low gears and under stress (going up a hill).a Also it's getting terrible gas mileage. I would not buy another Dodge product at this time---buyer beware.
Don't Bother
This is by far the worst truck I've ever driven. The 4.7 V-8 is a joke, it has no power and gets horrible mpg. The best mileage I've seen is 15 mpg highway empty, if I tow even a small trailer it gets 9 mpg. Toyota and Nissans V-6 have better power and mpg. Not to mention that it's been in the shop 6 times in less than 2 years, 4 times for tranny issues, radio problems and cracked exhaust manifold. Stay as far away as possible from Dodge products they are complete garbage across the board.I should know I rent them daily basis or should I say send them to the shop daily. Thankfully this is a company truck and I don't have to keep it for much longer.
Loved my 2006 Dakota
I recently lost my 2006 Dodge Dakota 8- cylinder quad cab 2WD due to a weather related accident. But in the 3 1/2 years I owned my Dakota, I absolutely loved driving it every time I got behind the wheel; and had zero problems with it in the time I owned it. As I was so completely satisfied with my 2006 Dakota in the time I owned it, I wanted to post a post-ownership review for the benefit of those who are considering purchasing one. The only bit of advice I would have is to opt for the 4-wheel drive version, though, since the 2-wheel drive version is real-wheel drive.
average at best
had a problem with the radio as soon as i drove it off the lot. then afte a month of driving, as i was doing an oil change i noticed tranny fluid leaking. the seals had gone bad and i had to have a new torque converter installed. the vehicle had 6,000 miles on it at the time. fortunately it was covered under the warranty, but this has me concerned as to what else will go wrong in the near future. going over bumps, the truck looses grip of the road.
Great Truck
I love my Dakota. I purchased a Colorado in '05 and soon after saw the new Dakota and wanted one. I finally made that choice about a month ago and I am glad I did so. Of course the gas mileage isn't as great but the difference isn't that drastic. Other things such as ride comfort, looks and standard features make up for it.
Comfortable Ride
My 2000 Tundra was falling apart, and I wanted to buy a small new truck. The interior room is great for hauling the kids around. We have also taken a couple of 500 miles trips and the highway mileage and comfort are great. But, the get up and go is non-existent. I don't get in a hurry with this one. Also, it is hard to get aftermarket parts/mods for the truck. Overall, a good ride, but I wish I had looked a bit more.
Bad Trans
I always like the Dodge Dakota so i bought this one Brand New. Since I have had this, it has been in the shop 5 times now. This time for the transmission that just went out @ 44,000 miles, and NO this year did not come with the extended Powertrain warranty. So I get to eat the cost of it this time. Other times it was in the shop for.. 1. Computer went out 2. Windshield Wiper motor 3. Bad Speakers 4. Ignition Switch
We call it Shake Rattle and Roll
This truck shakes. It vibrates. Took it back to the dealership 5 times in 5 months. Finally had to call Chrysler when the dealership became very rude with me. They didn't know what to do with it. It was still under the manufacturers warranty but they kept telling me it was brake issues and tire issues. Had all that replaced. Truck was still vibrating. They repaired some kind of axle shaft. Still vibrating. Put 4 new tires on it and turned the front rotors. Didn't vibrate for about 3 months. Now it's vibrating again. It's a piece of crap just because of this vibration that no one can make permanently go away.
does not honor warranty
I own a 06 Dodge Dakota 4x4 with the 3.7 v6. I am overall satisfied with the truck, but not with Dodge itself. I bought my truck in Feb 07, important date: the transmission went out the other day so I looked up dodge warranty and found out that an extended warranty for the 06 dakota powertrain was provided if you bought your truck on or after July 07. 4 months from the day I bought mine Feb 07. So dodge eventhough it's the same year and all will not honor my warranty due to the 4 month difference on day of purchase. DODGE/CHRYSLER, I HAVE BOUGHT MY LAST VEHICLE FROM YOU AND WILL RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THE SAME. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE JAPANESE ARE AHEAD OF US IN CUSTOMER SERVIC
Don't buy a Dodge!
I originally bought this truck due to it being the best truck for the money compared to the others. Now, I have constant problems with it. The power steering pump constantly screams as if it is low on fluid even though it is full. I have had difficulty getting the truck to start on 4 occasions, but the dealer can't duplicate the problem to diagnose it. The door is now sagging due to it not being tightened down all the way at the factory, and the body lean even at low speeds is excessive. I have taken the truck in to 3 different dealers for repair, and have had similar negative results with all. This truck is affordable initially, but is more expensive in the long run.
Can't wait to get rid of
Wow this truck is a total dog. I have no clue why i bought it, I liked the looks of it and the factory sound system. Other than that, the truck has no power and it's the HO 4.7. Fuel mileage is terrible, usually around 12 overall. Best I've seen is 16 and that was on cruise on the highway. The ride is like riding in a semi. Any bump you hit about throws you out of the vehicle. I can't wait to get rid of this truck!! GMC Sierra here I come!!
Incentives to buy for a reason
Need something to pull the neighbor out of the ditch with look no futher. But don't try to pass a filling station because you may not make the next. Fuel economy is worst than my 1991 V8 Dakota with 220,000 miles on it. Try to turn up the volume with gloves on and you shut it off over 80% of the time and remember to watch out for the shifter lever which is in the way to get to the stereo. Window controls are not usable except without gloves and don't try to unbuckle with gloves it don't work. Plow through snow to get to the highway and the alternator belt slips. The armrest is so hard and it shows dirt instantly. Incentives to buy for a reason. Buy the Toyota
Overall great vehicle
Have had my Dakota since new. The V8 is good but could have more power. 3xs back to the dealer for turn signle problems. Could use better suspension. Tires are terrible. Dodge, put a truck tire on a truck please. Surprisingly not as a cheaply built as I would think from a domestic vehicle. I prefer buying Deomestic but quality is going to drive that decision for people, including myself in the future. I love my Dakota. Thinking about adding some aftermarket improvement as I have no plans on getting rid of it. First vehicle I have had in a long time, domestic made, that I am really really happy with.
Not a bad truck...
This truck wasn't bad. The v6 was great until pulling. The ford 4.2 v6 seems a bit more powerfull. I put 26k on without a problem and went on a couple road trips and stayed comfortable. I only traded it because I needed more room for a growing family, back to Ford!
OK
I bought my truck new. I must say at first I loved it, but 3 months after having it, it was in the dealership 3 times on warrenty. Then about a year later in the shop again. First 2 things were with the gaskets for exhaust manafold, 3rd thing was air conditioning, 4th thing Camshaft Position Sensor wnet out at 36,000 miles, 5th thing sensor went out again at 49,000. No warrenty, thank god my husband is a wrench otherwise it would cost me $500. Truck is a piece. Think about giving it back and take my loses.
Gas Hog
All I can say is this vehicle gets 12 MPG on mostly highway while keeping it below 2,000 rpms. The window sticker is far from accurate. Buyer beware.
Nice Truck except for the Problems
I downsized from a Ram to a Dakota for better gas mileage. Stuck with Dodge due to the reliability of my old Ram. Unfortunately, my Dakota has been in the shop ten times over the last year. Three for wheel vibrations that appear to be fixed for now, and seven for belt problems that still are not resolved. Belt tensioner broke at 4000 miles. Since then it has been through three additional belts and in-and-out of the shop for belt squeel when making tight turns in parking lots. Should have contacted a Lemon-Law attorney before it went out of waranty as a friend has the same truck and has never experienced this problem. Other than that, it's a pleasure to drive, and looks great too.
Love the Looks
This was the truck I had been waiting for. Hated the nose design of the 1996-2005 [my prev. was a 1995 Dakota SLT]. This design is bold and clean. Interior is almost quiet, space is good, comfort is very good.. Fit & finish are great except for the body panels. Fenders to molded bumpers gap lets dirt, salt, mud flow thru. Got a cap on back and bed is fine & secure for most loads.
Good truck for the money...4.7liter v-8
I bought this vehicle used with 17,000 miles on it when I purchased it. At 19,000 the fuel pump went out, but the truck was covered under warranty, and they fixed it right away. For all around performance and features I can say it exceeded my expectations. The only gripe I have is the city driving w/ the 4.7 liter fuel mileage isn't all that great, but highway mileage is awesome! I'm fortunate to get 14 mpg city. Power is awesome and there's no lack at all in that category. I have over 30,000 miles on it now, and it has done well for me. I did experience a small problem w/ the door open sensor but they fixed it right away, I can only say good things about the dealership I purchased it from.
2006 Dakota 4.7 V8 Q-Cab 4WD SLT w/upgrd
I just purchased a 2006 Dakota with 21,000 miles on it in great condition. I needed something that can tow in the future, but not a big truck. It only had 4-5,000 miles per year prior to purchase. It rides much better than I thought and has plenty of room inside. I prefer the plastic look everyone seems to hate, but its easier to clean. I recently got 24 mpg highway and get about 18 city. This is great for a truck. I am very happy I got a Dakota with 21,000 and not a Frontier or Tacoma with 100,000. They are priced too high. Tailgate is not heavy like others say, better get back to the gym.
Pleased so far
A nice truck, however the fuel mileage is not as rated. So far it is 14+ in the city. I will give it some time to loosen up. Great truck. I am glad I own it.
Great quality and design!
The Dakota has been a wonderful vehicle for my family. From the comfortable seating for a family of four, to accountability. It was by far very affordable, with all of the extra equipment, compared to other makes!