The 2004 Chrysler Crossfire has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Ignition key will not turn or vehicle will not start.” Chrysler's Oil Change Indicator tracks engine load and duty cycle, then messages when oil life is used up — capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 (300, Pacifica, Town & Country, Voyager) is long-interval by design: spark plugs at 100,000 miles and no timing belt. Minivans in family duty count as 'severe service' more often than owners think — frequent short trips shorten the oil indicator's countdown, and that's the system working correctly.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Chrysler Crossfire.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
32 NHTSA complaints · 2007-08 → 2020-06
“IGNITION COMPLETELY LOCKED WHEN KEY PUT IN CANNOT TURN AT ALL. DEALER SAID THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE IGNITION WITH HOUSING UNIT TOTALING RIGHT AROUND $1500”
“IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION CYLINDER. CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED”
“I'M THE OWNER OF A 2004 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE. MY CAR WILL NOT CRANK-UP ANYMORE BECAUSE MY KEY WILL NOT COMPLETELY TURN”
STRUCTURE
4 NHTSA complaints · 2006-11 → 2023-08
“THE METAL WRAPPING OF THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR GRIP HAS SEPARATED ON THE INSIDE AND IS PEALING, EXPOSING THE SHARP EDGE OF THE METAL. AS A RESULT, I CUT THREE (3) OF MY FINGERS, WHICH REQUIRED NINE (9) STITCHES, THREE (3) IN EACH FINGER”
“THE WRAPPING OF THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR GRIP APPEARS TO HAVE BEGUN TO SEPARATE ON THE INSIDE AND IS PEALING. A SHARP EDGE OF THE METAL IS BEING EXPOSED AND AS A RESULT, I HAVE CUT MY LEFT HAND FINGERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR”
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A CHROME PIECE AS THE HANDLE IN THE PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR PANEL THAT WAS PEELING. A PASSENGER SLICED THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGER ON THE RIGHT HAND WHEN CLOSING THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR”
ENGINE
24 NHTSA complaints · 2005-09 → 2023-09
“I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY FROM WORK AND MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN TRIED TO CRANK IT, BUT NOTHING HAPPENS ALL THE LIGHTS AND RADIO COMES ON, BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T START. HASN'T BEEN CRANKING FOR OVER A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS NOW”
“MY CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT SHUT DOWN. NO WARNING”
“I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON I81 WHEN MY 2010 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS BESIDE A TRUCK WITH ONE IN FRONT AND 3 BEHIND”
POWER TRAIN
7 NHTSA complaints · 2003-11 → 2018-08
“THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR ON AN INTERMITENT BASIS WHEN STARTING OFF. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW”
“CAR POPS OUT OF FIST GEAR ABOUT EVERY 100-200 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES”
“CHRYSLER CROSS FIRE 2004. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY SLIPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AFTER THE CAR IS MOVING THE VECHILE AND THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Change oil when the indicator message appears — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L uses 0W-20; PT Cruiser's 2.4L uses 5W-30. Short-trip city driving will trigger the indicator well before 10,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate every 8,000 miles or at every oil change. Front-heavy minivans (Pacifica, Voyager) chew front tires quickly without rotation.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Loaded minivans and the heavy 300 wear rear pads faster than expected — check both axles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
PT Cruiser's 2.4L is a timing-belt engine: replace around 100,000 miles (check your manual's exact interval for the year). Do the water pump and tensioner in the same job — the labor overlaps almost entirely.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$935–$1175
Shop
~$655–$825
DIY
Pro only
On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Minivans (62TE six-speed): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles under family duty. 300 with the ZF/TorqueFlite 8-speed: Chrysler lists no normal-service interval, but specialists recommend fluid service around 60,000-100,000 miles. ATF+4 or the specified 8-speed fluid only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Pentastar 3.6L: iridium plugs at 100,000 miles. PT Cruiser 2.4L: roughly every 30,000 miles with conventional plugs — check the manual for your year.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Replace every 30,000 miles. On the Pentastar it's a quick top-of-engine job; inspect sooner in dusty climates.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on evidence of cracking or glazing. A failed belt on the Pentastar takes the water pump drive with it — don't run it to destruction.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace every 20,000 miles — behind the glovebox on Pacifica, Voyager, and 300. Family-hauler duty (pets, gravel school lots) argues for yearly.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Stellantis OAT coolant: first replacement at 10 years or 150,000 miles per the schedule; many shops suggest refreshing by 100,000 miles. Use OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing types gels the system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test annually once the battery passes 3 years old. Pacifica's stop-start system uses a pricier AGM or dual-battery setup — weak batteries throw confusing electrical faults first.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
25 crashes 1990–2024
How the 25 occupant deaths break down
19
driver deaths
6
passenger deaths
25
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
4
complaints mentioning a crash
1
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Chrysler Crossfire reflects Chrysler's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.