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Anybody have problems with 2006 Dodge automatic transmission?

S
Nov 26, 2007
699
72
28
Fort Shaw, Montana
What year pickup?

06-07 5.9L is a 48RE. Same tranny Dodge has used for years.

If it is a 6.7L, it will have the 68RE. It isnt to bad of a tranny imo. I have had zero problems with the auto's in my dodge pickups.

I am assuming the pickup is stock and not chipped?

cumminsforum.com has all the info you could ever want on a dodge pickup with a cummins.
 
J

JSCC

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2004
1,352
247
63
Huntsville,Ut
My 05 had the same tranny 48Re, lost it at around 40k miles. After the rebuild it ran hard. Just plan on fixing it up front, that way it don't piss you off when, not if, it happens.
 

Bilko

Member
Premium Member
Feb 3, 2008
78
13
8
Cali
They have a few easy fixes like gov. pressure solenoid. If you turn up the power you will have to upgrade as with all trucks. They have been proven the strongest when built. But stock they hold up fine.
 
W
Jan 13, 2010
6
0
1
2006

I have a 2006 5.9 quad cab auto tranny, I pull a 28' Mirage 4 place enclosed loaded, I have a toy hauler I pull in the summer time, with my boat behind that. I have a little over 52,000 on it and no problems so far, had the tranny serviced at 50 and he said everything looked good.

Hope this helps
 
X

Xcelerated performance

Active member
Dec 13, 2010
90
34
18
very week tranny. i had a 05 and in 70,000 i put 4 tranny's in. it kept burning out in between 2nd and 3rd gear. went to a ford and no problems. if you are going to pull anything with it plan on putting in a tranny.
 
0

07dragon

Member
Apr 8, 2010
265
5
18
they are a good tranny compared to anything else on the market. if you tow right, and know your boundaries with added power and how you use it, i have seen them last 150,000-200,000 miles. i have 160,000 on my 47re and the 48re you are looking at is a better tranny than i have.

by the way.... Allisons take poops too :)
 

cash

Active member
Premium Member
Nov 27, 2007
138
27
28
Omaha
Dodge

06 5.9 mega cab 154,000 miles and zero problems, hope I didnt just jenks myself.
 
N

Nelson

Well-known member
Nov 30, 2007
1,496
73
48
39
Libby, Montana/Elko, Nevada
04.5 3500 Cummins with 115,000 miles and zero problems with the 48RE (Edge Juice stacked with Smarty Jr)

07 2500 Cummins with 80,000 miles and zero problems with the 48RE (Bullydog Triple Dog w/Outlook and Crazy Larry Tune)

I wish they were the newer six speed 68RE like the 6.7 Cummins have but I've never had a single problem with either of the 48RE's. I dump the tranny pan and change the filter and fluids every year.
 
S
Oct 7, 2009
25
12
3
I have an '06 mega cab cummins as well and I just put a Goerend tranny in it last fall. Before that I had an ATS 5-star converter and BD valvebody. I overbuilt it with billet in/out shafts because if I turn the screws up later it'll handle the power.

The weakest link is the torque converter. The fluid coupling only provides about 75% power transfer when unlocked(the rest is heat). Heat kills trannies. Billet aftermarket converters have between 89-93% lockup and the builder can provide a stall speed that will keep the engine on the torque curve. Common rails like around 1700rpm, but the stock one is about 2200rpm. Also the triple-disc lockup clutch holds way more torque, but it can lead to other problems easily fixed while you're in there, like the flexplate. It can be broken during hard lockups with lots of weight in tow. Long story short: upgrade your flexplate too.

The next biggest gripe is the valvebody. The tranny hunts for gears(shuttle-shifting) and besides driving you crazy I can't imagine it's good for the clutchpacks to be constantly going from 2-3-2-3-2-3 and so on. A simple valvebody upgrade will give you enough line pressure to drive the 2-3 shift(for starters) home and keep it there, and provide nice firm shifting.

Most people will be covered by the above upgrades, since we don't all run huge tunes and try laying rubber with the sleds on the deck. If you are really serious, having a billet input shaft can save you a torque converter if you're abusive, but you don't need a billet output shaft unless you're doing boosted launches.
 

Rick!

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 26, 2007
793
335
63
04.5 3500 Cummins with 115,000 miles and zero problems with the 48RE (Edge Juice stacked with Smarty Jr)

07 2500 Cummins with 80,000 miles and zero problems with the 48RE (Bullydog Triple Dog w/Outlook and Crazy Larry Tune)

I wish they were the newer six speed 68RE like the 6.7 Cummins have but I've never had a single problem with either of the 48RE's. I dump the tranny pan and change the filter and fluids every year.

Got the same rig, 04.5 with 120k towing 30% of the time anywhere from 3500 to 14,500lbs. Run Amsoil fluid and change every 50k. No problems, just missing 2 more gears - I got 6 speed envy.
 

sidehillsam

Active member
Lifetime Membership
Sep 24, 2008
159
31
28
Post Falls, Idaho
06 auto

The only complaint I have so far with the tranny is it doesn't shift and lock into overdrive untill you get up to 50 mph. It's a big jump and rpm change.
 

ryanjeri

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Feb 20, 2008
1,178
961
113
ID
04.5, Edge Juice CTS - with hot unlock, Didn't have any issue with tranny until i towed my 5er on stage 5, pulled out in from of someone on highway, poured the coals to her, well the rest is history.
I am currently in the market for a new tranny, I do not have any issues with the stock setup, I believe it would last forever in stock form. With anything if you run it within its limits.
 
S
Nov 26, 2007
1,403
972
113
utah
mine is an 06 megacab with the 5.9 and edge ez chip....i put an ats torque converter and valvebody in at 28k...cost 2500 installed...pulls everything well with no problems...i pull 15k boat in summer to lake powell (hot)....handles the extra 75 hp and the big load on the long hills well..
 
M
Nov 13, 2008
465
99
28
06 48re

Had an 06 Mega, tranny crapped at 8k. I got anew tranny and put a torque converter in it but still hunted gears. Bought an 08 and didnt have any problems but never liked that tranny at all. Read somewhere that the tranny was a mid sized one, loved my Allison previous but nothing compares to the new 68re in my 11. I would say get the pick up because of the pre emission 5.9 then upgrade the tran. You will love the MEGA! And never go wrong with a cummins.
 
H
Nov 26, 2007
2,366
160
63
53
havre, montana
had an 05 3/4t ,5.9 ho automatic, had it in 9 times for the tranny, wouldn't shift up or down properly or even at all, they refused to replace the trans, just kept changin vavle body's and other crap, traded it off, got an 06 d'max , been one of my fav's, second owner of the dodge had the same problems , he traded it off after having it in 7 times for the tranny, 3rd owner paid to have the tranny replaced himself, don't know of any more issues, he's retired and doesn't drive it much either, 5 dealers and all the problems i had and my brother has with his fleet of dodges i am glad i don't own one
 
H

High Velocity

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2007
1,050
497
83
61
Hinton, Alberta
I had an '03 with the 48RE. Pulled various types and weights of trailers the whole time I had it. At 100,000 km, the int. band was replaced on warranty. Other than that, no issues. Do your services and make sure that band is adjusted. I traded it for an '07 with the 6.7 and 68RFE. Ran it with a 5" TBE, S&B CAI, and Mini Maxx. No tranny issues at all. Just traded in the '07 last Thursday for an '11 3500 SRW CC longbox Laramie with the 6.7/68RFE and I'm not worried at all.
 
S
Dec 17, 2007
40
5
8
Selah, WA
48RE

I have an 03 w/5.9 and 190,000+ miles. When I bought it I knew the Tranns would be the weakest link. At 126,000 miles I put in a Goerend built 48RE, not because I had too (some small issue) but because I wanted the piece of mind. I don't plan on selling it... Ever..! I Have and have had other trucks but this one is a keeper.

I would buy it, run it and then upgrade the trans when the time comes. The Pre EPA 5.9 HO CR is a 500,000 to 1,000,000 mile motor but no other component on any truck will last anywhere near that long.

The 48RE is a good transmition, just not a great transmittion the way the factory builds them. The shame of it is if the factory could have put better torque converters, valve bodies, shafts and flex plates in them to begin with, but bean counters rule over engineers in the big auto companies and others.

FYI, I've got a 2010 F350 diesel 4x4, Crew Cab, lariat, leather, loaded and leveled I'll sell you!
 
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