CARFAX Reveals Top 10 Catalytic Converter Theft Targets

CARFAX's 2026 vehicle security report names the Ford F-150 as the nation's most targeted vehicle for catalytic converter theft, with over 137,000 stolen car parts recorded in 2025.

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CARFAX, the vehicle history report provider, released its mid-2026 vehicle security analysis on June 10, identifying the Ford F-150 pickup truck as the most frequently targeted vehicle for catalytic converter theft nationwide. The CARFAX report draws on records tied to more than 137,000 stolen car parts in 2025, with additional thefts continuing to accumulate through the first half of 2026.

What the CARFAX Report Found

The CARFAX report identifies a clear pattern in catalytic converter theft: criminals overwhelmingly target pickup trucks and SUVs over passenger sedans. Of the 10 vehicles appearing most frequently in theft records, every model is either a full-size truck, heavy-duty truck, or crossover SUV. The shift reflects both the prevalence of these vehicle classes on U.S. roads and the operational ease they offer would-be thieves.

Vehicle security experts note that a battery-powered reciprocating saw can sever a catalytic converter from a raised truck in under two minutes, requiring no specialized mechanical knowledge.

The Top 10 Most Targeted Vehicles

The full CARFAX list, ranked by frequency of recorded theft, is as follows:

1. Ford F-150 2. Hyundai Tucson 3. Ford Explorer 4. Ram 2500 5. Chevrolet Silverado 6. Chevrolet Traverse 7. Ram 3500 8. Ford EcoSport 9. Ford Expedition 10. Chevrolet Trax

Ford vehicles account for four of the ten positions, while General Motors brands hold three and Stellantis Ram trucks occupy two. The Hyundai Tucson is the sole non-American nameplate on the list.

Why Trucks and SUVs Are Vulnerable

Ground clearance is the primary operational factor. Pickup trucks and body-on-frame SUVs sit substantially higher off the pavement than front-wheel-drive sedans or hatchbacks, giving thieves unobstructed access to the undercarriage without requiring a jack or ramp. Heavy-duty trucks such as the Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 — purpose-built for commercial and towing applications — are particularly exposed because they are frequently parked outdoors overnight at job sites or fleet yards with limited surveillance coverage.

The sheer volume of these models on U.S. roads compounds the exposure. The F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for more than four decades, meaning the total addressable pool for vehicle security breaches of this type is exceptionally large.

The Precious Metals Connection

Catalytic converter theft is fundamentally a commodity crime. Each converter contains trace quantities of platinum, palladium, and rhodium — rare-earth metals used to neutralize exhaust gases. Scrap dealers pay between $25 and $300 for a standard converter depending on metal content and market conditions. Converters from hybrid powertrains, which run their catalytic units more actively at lower temperatures, carry significantly higher concentrations of precious metals and fetch up to $1,400 per unit on secondary markets.

Rhodium, the rarest of the three metals, traded at approximately $11,000 per ounce as of March 2026, sustaining strong economic incentive for organized theft rings even as enforcement pressure has increased in several states.

Financial Toll on Vehicle Owners

The CARFAX report underscores a steep asymmetry between the criminal's gain and the owner's loss. While a thief nets at most a few hundred dollars per stolen car part, the vehicle owner faces replacement costs of up to $3,000, and sometimes higher for diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks requiring specialized converters. Owners without comprehensive auto insurance coverage bear the full expense out of pocket.

Labor costs amplify the burden. Replacing a catalytic converter on a Ram 2500 or Ford Expedition requires cutting and rewelding exhaust pipes, a repair that can take several shop hours even when parts are immediately available.

Protective Measures

Law enforcement agencies and the CARFAX report both recommend a layered approach to vehicle security: parking in locked, well-lit garages or high-traffic areas; installing catalytic converter anti-theft shields available for most popular truck platforms; and engraving the vehicle identification number (VIN) directly onto the converter. A VIN-marked unit is easier for scrapyards and pawn shops to flag as stolen car parts, reducing the converter's resale value and deterring opportunistic theft.

Some jurisdictions now require scrap dealers to verify seller identity before accepting converters, adding friction to the resale chain.

Outlook

Catalytic converter theft remains one of the highest-volume vehicle-related crimes in the United States. The CARFAX report reinforces that ownership of a pickup truck or large SUV — particularly an F-150, Silverado, or Ram heavy-duty model — carries elevated exposure as long as precious metal prices remain elevated and enforcement gaps persist at the scrap-dealer level. State-level legislation requiring VIN verification at scrapyards, combined with aftermarket shielding products, represents the most actionable near-term deterrent for the vehicles most prominently featured on the CARFAX list. Mentioned tickers: F, GM, STLA, SPGI, HYMTF

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