Catalytic converter theft is plaguing the automotive industry, with a recent uptick causing Toyota to call for crime-busting legislation.
According to Autonews, vehicles that have had their converters stolen are filling up dealerships’ service departments. Depending on how much damage is done to the vehicle to get the converters out, the repair bill can be as high as $11,000 for some vehicles.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported 14,433 converter thefts in 2020 alone, a massive increase from just 3,389 thefts in 2019, and officials hinted that the number for 2021 would be even higher.
The top choices for converter thieves are the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma. These vehicles can have up to four catalytic converters per vehicle, and their high ride height makes it relatively easy to access the underside. In addition to the ease of theft, Toyota’s converters themselves have higher concentrations of precious metals than other brands. Other favorites include the Ford F-series, Ram 1500, and four-cylinder-powered Honda models.
Read More: Car Thefts Spiked In 2020, Catalytic Converters Also A Prime Target
The reason for the theft of the parts is the high amount of precious metal found inside. Rhodium, platinum, and palladium act as catalysts for the dirty air, helping to clean it as it exits the tailpipe, leading to reduced CO2 emissions.
The market price for an ounce of each metal is currently up to $16,600 for Rhodium, $919 for platinum, and $2,200 for palladium. As for complete converters, metal recyclers will pay up to $1,500 for a single converter, while a full set of four Toyota converters is currently bringing from $500 to $1,000.
Toyota Motor North America has called upon the automotive industry at large to work with police and legislators to devise a solution.
Could legislation solve the problem?
