What are Catalytic Converter in cars?
The hazardous chemicals from an engine’s exhaust are converted into harmless gases, such as steam, by a catalytic converter, which employs a chamber called a catalyst. It works by breaking up the dangerous molecules in the gases produced by an automobile before they are discharged into the atmosphere.
Why catalytic converter is stolen?
Catalytic converters are targeted by thieves because they contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which are valuable to metal traders. They may sell them for up to $1000 to scrap yards.
Which Cars are least likely to have Catalytic Converter Stolen?
Those cars that have less precious metal and little after-market price of the catalytic converter are less likely to be stolen.
- Bead Catalytic Converter: Very little to no price in a scrap yard,
- Diesel Catalytic Converter: there are almost all diesel converter has no value due to a lack of precious metals.
Ford, Chevy and GMC, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and Hyundai are the Least Likely to have been stolen due to less precious metals.
However, that doesn’t mean they are not immune to being stolen, instead the possibility is very low.
Especially for those cars that have little ground clearance.
SUVs and Pickups are more prone to easily targeting even though their converter price in the market is less than $50 US.
Most Stolen Catalytic Converter Cars
Hybrid and Toyota Prius family has the most number of cases of catalytic converter being stolen.
The Honda Jazz, Toyota Prius, Toyota Auris, and Lexus RX were the most likely targets.
Thieves like hybrids because their converters do not work as hard as those in other vehicles, allowing the valuable metals stored in them to corrode less.
Which New Cars Have no Catalytic Converters?
All-electric vehicles, which you plug in to replenish their batteries and consume neither gasoline nor diesel, are the only vehicles on the road today that don’t use any converters at all. (Again, catalytic converters are used in all hybrid vehicles that use gas or diesel fuel, including plug-in and non-plug-in.)
- Audi E-Tron
- BMW i3
- Chevrolet Bolt EV
- Fiat 500E
- Honda Clarity Electric
- Hyundai Ioniq EV
- Hyundai Kona EV
- Hyundai NEXO
- Jaguar I-Pace
- Kia Soul EV
- Nissan Leaf
- Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model S
- Tesla Model X
- Volkswagen e-Golf
Conclusion
There are several preventing steps that you can take to be able to protect your vehicle cat from being stolen and choose the car based upon your budget and other requirements, rather than which car has less cat value or is least likely of a cat being stolen.
