These Vehicles Are Most Vulnerable to Theft, Says IIHS

As vehicle theft continues to rise across the country, some car owners need to be more vigilant than others, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Typically, luxury vehicles and sports cars rank highest on the “most-stolen” list, but Hyundai and Kia thefts have been on the rise, rivaling pricier models in recent years. The agency’s Highway Loss Data Institute says the main culprit is the absence of engine immobilizers in some older models from those manufacturers.

Related: What’s a Catalytic Converter and Why Do People Steal Them?

To identify which vehicles are stolen most often, the 2022 HLDI study looked at whole vehicle theft losses (based on comprehensive insurance theft claims that mirror the dollar value of the covered vehicle). Theft frequency was determined by the number of claims per 1,000 insured vehicles to account for the fact that more popular vehicles will be stolen more often. While higher-priced cars are consistently targeted by thieves, the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Kia Sportage have recently climbed into the top 20. Below are the top stolen vehicles for model years 2019-21:

1. Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

2. Dodge Charger HEMI

3. Infiniti Q50

4. Dodge Challenger

5. Land Rover Range Rover four-wheel drive

6. Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4WD

7. Nissan Maxima

8. Kia Rio

9. Dodge Charger

10. Honda Accord

11. BMW X7 4WD

12. Chrysler 300

13. Kia Sportage

14. Ram 3500 crew cab LWB 4WD

15. Ford F-350 SuperCrew 4WD

16. Kia Sportage 4WD

17. Ford F-250 SuperCrew 4WD

18. Honda CR-V

19. Dodge Durango 4WD

20. Hyundai Accent

Missing Immobilizers Lead to Thefts

The HLDI identified a recent spike in vehicle thefts for 2015-19 model-year Hyundai and Kia vehicles, with claim frequencies for the first six months of 2021 twice as high  compared to 2019. Additionally, vehicle thefts were nearly twice as common for Hyundai and Kia than all other manufacturers combined, according to the agency’s report. While increasing thefts were seen across all states, Wisconsin and Colorado saw the largest spikes.

The reason for the concerning trend is likely that these cars are easier targets because the brands have been slow to add engine immobilizers to their vehicles. (An immobilizer is an electronic security device that prevents an engine from starting without a digital-coded key.)  According to the HLDI, only 26% of 2015 Hyundai and Kia models had standard immobilizers, versus 96% for all other brands combined.

What’s Being Done?

Hyundai and Kia have started to add immobilizers into new vehicles in response to the rising thefts: 78% of 2021 models were equipped with the feature, and most new models offer it today. As for older cars, Hyundai and Kia say they are working with local police departments to make steering-wheel locks available to owners, and Hyundai says it will have a vehicle security kit available for purchase in October.

Is Your Car at Risk?

In addition to the aforementioned models, luxury vehicles and sports cars are common targets for car thieves: Two Range Rover variants and four Dodge muscle cars landed among the top 10 most stolen cars.

While the Toyota Prius did not make the list, HLDI found the hybrid’s catalytic converter is especially desirable. A 2021 study found that overall losses for catalytic converters among 2004–09 Toyota Priuses were 18 times higher in 2020 than in 2018. Owners of the Honda Accord should note that claim frequencies were almost four times higher for models with the available 19-inch wheels than those with the base wheel size.

Preventing Vehicle Theft

Regardless of the make and model, owners can help prevent their vehicle from becoming stolen. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends always locking the doors, closing the windows completely and parking in well-lit areas. Additionally, devices like alarms, brake locks and wheel locks can help deter thieves. Lastly, if a vehicle did not come with an immobilizer, aftermarket options like smart keys or fuse cut-offs can be installed.

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