Yahoo Autos These 10 Vehicles Are Most Likely to Have Their Catalytic Converter Stolen
When you think of catalytic converter thefts, you typically think of the Toyota Prius. And for good reason — it’s a popular target for thieves looking to make a quick buck. Heck, you can even add a factory-installed catalytic converter shield to your 2023 Toyota Prius to help protect yourself.
But the Prius is far from the only car targeted by catalytic converter thieves. CarFax recently had its data team dig through millions of service records to see which cars were getting their cat converters replaced most frequently due to theft.
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These are the 10 vehicles that most frequently had their catalytic converters stolen, according to CarFax.
10: Chevrolet Cruze
The Cruze doesn’t have a lot of ground clearance, so getting underneath probably isn’t as easy as some of the others on this list. But it’s common enough that thieves apparently target it anyway.
9: Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma’s tall ride height makes it easy for thieves to wiggle underneath and cut off the cat converter. And people sure do buy a lot of them. If you don’t need the off-road capability, maybe the Honda Ridgeline is a safer choice.
8: Chevrolet Silverado
High-riding and popular all over the country? Yep, the Chevrolet Silverado’s going to be a target. Suddenly, the electric version is looking a little more appealing.
7: Chevrolet Equinox
The Chevrolet Equinox is arguably the most average vehicle sold in the country. But something tells us thieves aren’t worried about styling or performance when stealing catalytic converters.
6: Ford Econoline
It’s definitely annoying to lose your cat on a personal vehicle, but it’s got to be even more frustrating when you need your work van to do your job. Or if you have to cancel your church’s trip to the Creation Museum.
5: Ford Explorer
Apparently, thieves have a thing for Fords. Maybe you should have bought a Dodge Durango instead. The Durango didn’t make this list.
4: Honda CR-V
Typically, any time a Honda CR-V makes a list, the Toyota RAV4 is pretty close by. But not this time. Only the CR-V makes the top 10 on this list.
3: Toyota Prius
You knew it had to be on this list somewhere. But surprisingly, it’s only in the third slot. Maybe because there’s no guarantee anymore that a Prius still has its catalytic converter?
2: Honda Accord
Something tells us Honda isn’t super excited to have two cars in the top five here. Normally, sweeping the podium is a good thing, but it’s definitely not when we’re talking about cars frequently targeted by thieves.
1: Ford F Series
Ford’s number one! Take that, Chevrolet. But jokes aside, it does make sense. The F-150 has plenty of ground clearance, and F-Series pickup trucks have consistently topped the U.S. sales charts for years. If you pick a vehicle at random, there’s a decent chance it’s a Ford F-Series, and that’s probably why it’s so commonly targeted by cat-converter thieves.
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