2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Crossfire Roadster most often report the rear glass separating from the fabric convertible top, usually as adhesive letting go along one edge and sometimes as the whole window dropping out, with dealers commonly saying the entire top must be replaced. Reports cluster from roughly 20,000 to 70,000 miles and appear whether the car sat parked or was driven at highway speed. The remaining reports are scattered: water entering the cabin through the separated window and affecting rear electrics, and occasional ignition or starting faults.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rear window detaching from convertible top

   • 87 complaints (72%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (81 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,150 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2016

   Owners describe the adhesive bonding the rear glass to the fabric top letting go, sometimes as a small separation along one edge and sometimes with the window dropping out entirely. Many found it while the car was parked, others at highway speed, and several note that only the defroster wires kept the glass from coming completely free. Complaints say dealers usually decline to re-glue the window rather than quote a complete replacement top, and several owners report being told that assistance applied only to cars first sold in certain southern states. Reported from roughly 20,000 to about 90,000 miles, with many clustered between 25,000 and 55,000 miles and several after years of low annual mileage or hot-weather parking.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the bond line around the rear glass for gaps, lifted corners or dried, stringy adhesive, and ask whether the top has already been replaced or reglued. A top that looks otherwise new can still have a failing window bond, so check it with the roof both up and folded.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster rear window fell out of the top. This could have fallen behind my car and hit another vehicle and injured someone. I belong to a Chrysler car club and found this is a common failure for this year model. I have contacted Chrysler and am waiting for their opinion. I am told the top replacement is about $3000.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #10400172, filed 2011-05, 22,000 miles

   “On my 2005 crossfire, the rear window separated from roof and now the roof won't retract with a rapid blinking red light on the roof switch and for some reason it constantly run my battery down. This car only has 32,000 miles on it. No help from Chrysler or insurance, will never buy another Chrysler again and will discourage anyone I know from purchasing one. New orleans, la.”

   NHTSA complaint #10421018, filed 2011-08, 32,350 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Water leaking into cabin where rear glass separates

   • 11 complaints (9%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2016

   When the rear glass pulls away from the fabric, owners report rain and wash water coming into the cabin through the gap, soaking the area behind the seats and sometimes reaching the rear electrics. A few complaints describe the window folding inward during a storm while driving, with water pouring in and the car having to be stopped. Follow-on problems owners mention include a rear defroster that no longer works, central locking faults and damp interior trim. Described from roughly 26,000 to 70,000 miles in the sample, usually tied to heavy rain or storms rather than to a particular mileage point.

   What to check: Look for damp carpets, water stains or a musty smell behind the seats and in the rear storage well, and confirm the rear defroster and central locking both work. Ask where the car has been parked and whether it has sat outside in rain.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear window fell out completely in the middle of a thunderstorm with my wife driving. The window happened to fall inside the vehicle but it could have caused an accident if it had fallen outside the car. She was lucky that the window did not fall on her and we only got wet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10639441, filed 2014-09, 71,000 miles

   “During a severe rainstorm the rear window glass detached from the convertible top allowing severe flooding of the interior of the vehicle causing various electrical failures to occur. This sudden and unexpected event caused an emergency stop in traffic that could have resulted in an accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10758895, filed 2015-08, 35,723 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start and ignition switch faults

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 10.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2016

   Owners describe the car failing to start with no warning, a key that will not turn in the ignition, or a start that works intermittently and occasionally cuts out while driving. Some report a check-engine light or other warning lamps alongside the starting problem, and one owner had a start relay replaced only for the fault to return a month later. In several cases the dealer could not reproduce or diagnose the fault. Reported from under 10,000 miles to about 100,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern in the sample.

   What to check: Start the car several times, cold and warm, check that the key turns freely and that no warning lamps stay lit after start-up. Ask whether the ignition switch or start relay has been replaced, and whether the roof has ever stopped retracting or drained the battery.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermittent engine start failure relay replaced good for 30 days then intermittent engine start failure standing still and sometimes in motion city street. Replaced relay $567.00”

   NHTSA complaint #10859951, filed 2016-04, 23,450 miles

   “The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster. When the contact placed the key in the ignition, the ignition switch would not turn and the check engine warning indicator illuminated.the vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not able to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10903131, filed 2016-09, 100,000 miles

Buying note. The convertible top is the item to scrutinize on this model year: if the rear glass bond is failing, plan on a full top replacement, since owners describe regluing as temporary at best. Also check for water damage behind the seats and confirm the car starts reliably from cold and after being driven.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.