Unlikely, but not impossable. Check the antenna for cuts and loose solder conections. Also, if you have another set of crystals, try swapping them out completely.
Does the radio act up if the car is off or only when the engine is running? Twitching servos are/can be pretty common on a running nitro rc. You may need to start checking all of the metal-to-metal contacts/screws.
Also, if you do decide to try a new reciever, check e-bay. The stock rx's are usually on there for a lot less than $45.