I was driving my 2008 Chrysler crossfire roadster that I bought in tampa, fl. On september 22nd 2014 when I noticed a wind sound coming from the rear of the passenger side. I noticed a separation in the rear window glass from the convertible top. By the time I arrived home the glass has separated more than half way from the convertible top. I will not drive this crossfire anymore as I believe…
2008 Chrysler Crossfire visibility problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 12 visibility complaints filed for the 2008 Chrysler Crossfire, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Visibility accounts for 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2008 Crossfire convertible has a documented adhesive failure where the rear window detaches from the fabric top, potentially causing glass to fall during driving. Chrysler addressed this on 2005 models but failed to apply the same fix to later years, leaving 2008 owners facing expensive full-top replacement with no manufacturer support.
The rear window on 2008 Crossfire convertibles is separating from the fabric top due to adhesive failure. The glue bond between the window glass and canvas deteriorates—sometimes in hot, parked conditions, sometimes while driving—causing the window to detach from the bottom and sides first. Owners report the glass coming loose enough to rest on the rear deck, fall inside the car, or swing around striking the body. When driving, some hear wind noise from the rear before noticing the separation; in one case, the glass was already 70% detached during normal driving. This is a known issue: Chrysler issued a Technical Service Bulletin for the 2005 model year in hot-weather states with extended warranty, but the problem persists in 2006, 2007, and 2008 models without equivalent coverage. Dealers say the window cannot be reattached and require complete convertible top replacement, costing $2,500 or more. Multiple owners report failure at low mileage (7,100 to 13,763 miles), and one owner notes only 960 units were built in 2008, suggesting the defect rate may be extremely high. Manufacturer has provided no solution for later model years despite documented history of the defect.
Same Chrysler Crossfire visibility reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Rear Window Adhesive Failure and Detachment from Convertible Top
The adhesive bead securing the rear window glass to the convertible fabric top fails, causing the window to separate from the canvas. Separation typically begins at the bottom and sides, with the glass eventually loosening enough to rest on the rear deck or fall completely inside the vehicle. The failure appears to be driven by heat exposure and affects the fabric-glue interface.
When: Occurs at various mileages (reported 7,100 to 13,763 miles); can happen while parked in hot conditions or while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window separating from convertible top fabric; Wind noise from rear of vehicle while driving; Lower portion of rear window resting on rear deck or inside car; Window swinging and striking car body; Complete window detachment leaving only top attachment intact; Glass defogging wires still attached at sides while window separates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis: rear windshield replacement needed; some dealers unable to reattach and require full convertible top replacement ($2500 reported). Owners report manufacturer stated nothing could be done or no solution provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler issued TSB for 2005 model year in southern states (Texas, etc.) with extended warranty coverage; problem persists in 2006, 2007, and 2008 model years without similar coverage. Recall 16V081000 issued for airbags but unrelated to this window failure.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler crossfire. The contact exited the vehicle and, without warning, the rear window detached from the frame. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a repair shop for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The contact was unable to determine who would repair the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 8,500.…
Rear wind shield starting to separate and fall out of convertible top. Understood there was a tsb for this for 2005, but 2006, 2007, 2008 models have the same affliction. *tr
I went away on vacation for a week and left my 2008 crossfire at home. Three days after leaving, my grandson calls and tells me that the rear windshield had detached from the convertible top and was laying inside the car. Thank god he caught it and covered it because that night they had 3 inches of rain overnight.
Summary: the rear window glass separated from convertible fabric top while the vehicle was parked. Details: on 8/13/2016, at about noon, near bertram, texas, on a hot clear day, I parked the subject vehicle along the side of a residential road. The vehicle was in sight the whole time. Nothing struck or touched the vehicle while I talked to neighbors for about an hour. When I returned,…
While vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance I was told the rear window of my convertible fell out and was laying on the rear shelf. Was told there was nothing Chrysler could do about this. Seems this is quite common with the tops. A recall was issued for the 2005 models but seems the problem still exist. Was also told to have the top replaced ($2500) and keep the receipt if there is a…
On july 10 when I left the office, I was driving the car to go home in the afternoon and I noticed a strange noise coming from the back side of the vehicle. In the red traffic light stop I inspected the rear glass and I realized it is detached almost 70%, mainly the bottom portion, just the upper side was attached. I drove carefully about 5 miles to get home and I was worried because the glass…
Had visibility trouble with your 2008 Chrysler Crossfire?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2008 Chrysler Crossfire?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 13,763 and 45,500 miles, with the median around 24,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,763; a quarter make it past 45,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Chrysler/Crossfire.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.