CARFAX IDENTIFIES VEHICLES TARGETED MOST OFTEN FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT

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May 03, 2022, 08:05 ET

The Top 10 Most Targeted Vehicles and What Consumers Can Do to Protect Themselves

CENTREVILLE, Va., May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalytic converter thefts have soared in recent years, thanks in large part to the spiking prices of precious metals. Thieves are removing catalytic converters by cutting them from beneath vehicles, and that can be a rude awakening for car owners. Not only will the car make a loud noise when started, but it can cost owners thousands of dollars to replace that missing catalytic converter.

So just how prevalent is catalytic converter theft? The National Insurance Crime Bureau, which tracks thefts reported to insurance companies, says the number of those reports increased about 977% from 2018 to more than 14,000 in 2020, the most recent year for which data is available.

To help consumers, CARFAX has compiled a nationwide list of the top targets for these precious-metal thieves:

1985-2021 Ford F-Series pickup trucks (F-150, F-250, etc.)
1989-2020 Honda Accord
2007-17 Jeep Patriot
1990-2022 Ford Econoline vans
1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks
2005-21 Chevrolet Equinox
1997-2020 Honda CR-V
1987-2019 Toyota Camry
2011-17 Chrysler 200
2001-21 Toyota Prius

Depending on where you're located in the country, certain vehicles are targeted more heavily. We have a break down by region here.

These lists were compiled by looking at CARFAX service reports for catalytic converter replacements from more than 60,000 service shops across the country from 2019 through the first three months of 2022.

Car owners looking to prevent catalytic converter theft should:

Park in a well-lit area.
Park in your garage if possible, instead of in the driveway or on the street.
If you must park in a driveway, consider installing motion sensor security lights.
Install a catalytic converter anti-theft device.
Have a muffler shop etch your vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the converter and spray it with a highly visible, high-heat paint. Doing so enables law enforcement to track converters, which in turn could lead police to the thieves.

To learn more about catalytic converts and why they're stolen:

https://www.carfax.com/blog/catalytic-converters

About CARFAX

CARFAX, part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides exclusive services like CARFAX Used Car Listings, CARFAX Car Care, CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the world's largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post and Glassdoor.com. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell – Show me the CARFAX™.

S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets.

SOURCE CARFAX