Catalytic converter theft from cars isn’t a new crime, but it has increased significantly in recent times.
Police forces around the UK are advising owners of any car fitted with a catalytic converter to take precautions. In Toyota’s case it is second and third-generation Prius models (2004-2009 and 2009-2016 respectively) and second-generation Auris Hybrids (2012-2018) which have been particular targets for thieves.
Below we’ve gathered the best advice for Toyota owners who may be concerned.
What is a catalytic converter?
The catalytic converter is part of the car’s emissions control system. It cleans up the exhaust gases before they are expelled from the car through the exhaust pipe. Its internal elements react with the gases, breaking them down into less harmful substances and water vapour. All new cars sold in Europe since 1993 have had to be fitted with a catalytic converter by law.
Why are they a target for thieves?
Clearly the police are best placed to offer advice on the motives behind this crime. But we understand that the value of the catalytic converter for recycling is the main attraction to thieves, because it contains precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium.
What can owners do to stop their cars being targeted?
Some owners have chosen to tag their catalytic converters with an invisible yet traceable forensic marking solution, such as that provided by SmartWater. This means that a stolen catalytic converter can be traced to a specific crime, helping police in their attempts to fight the organised gangs responsible. It also raises the risk to all those handling the devices along the criminal chain, from theft to eventual disposal and recycling. Mechanical theft prevention products such as Catloc devices can also deter thieves.
However, it must be noted that catalytic converter theft is a criminal operation and the scope of owners is therefore limited. Police forces are taking action, so it is important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it as quickly as possible.
In the main, older cars are more likely to be targeted. This is because advances in efficiency and technology mean the latest generations of catalytic converters contain vastly lower amounts of precious metals, while still doing their job just as well or even better. This means their value for recycling is very low and they are not attractive to thieves.
Does a mechanical lock give my car 100% protection from thieves?
Sadly not. It can make theft more difficult but thieves are using high-powered cutting tools to remove catalytic converters and because of this it is not possible to make them ‘unstealable’. A mechanical locking device makes it harder to steal a catalytic converter because it slows down thieves and therefore acts as a deterrent.
If I’m worried about my Toyota model, what should I do?
If you are worried about potential catalytic converter theft from your Toyota, we recommend you use our locator tool to find your nearest Toyota centre and contact them to discuss the best way to protect your car.
This article was last updated on 2 November 2024, so some of the responses to reader comments below have been superseded by more recent information.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime and for the distress this may have caused. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details and open a customer relations case on your behalf. They are best equipped to discuss your case in more detail and provide the best support.
Thanks.
I had my Catalytic converter stolen 8 days after buying my car. All I have so far heard from Toyota is they are sorry I have been a victim of crime and they will open a complaint. So there are no Toyota Catalytic converters available and no Maglocs available either. My local garage says it has 10 cars waiting for Cats. Times this by the 180 odd Toyota dealerships and this is an awful lot of people who will never buy another Toyota in their lives.
So far I have heard nothing. I can get a replacement Cat but it is not a Toyota part. This would invalidate the warranty. So I am stuck without the car I paid for and even when I get it back its of no use to me since I cannot park it anywhere and ensure its safety. This makes the reason I purchased the car in the first place invalid since I cannot use it for my job.
Toyota, in your quest for profit have you any idea of the misery and hardship you are causing. I don’t blame you for the theft but for not alerting dealerships, not finding an adequate solution and dealing with customers in an off hand we are doing all we can approach by trying to sell a magloc system that still won’t guarantee my cars security I do hold you responsible.
I had my Catalytic converter stolen on 4th October 19. I phoned my local Toyota dealership and I was told that I will have to wait for at least 3 to 4 months to get a new one. This is frustrating as I use my car on a daily basis. If I had known that the converters on Toyota was very easy to steal, I would have never bought the car. We should be compensated for this!
Dear Toyota
I’ve commented here before and I have a case open with your Customer Relations Team. On this blog, your standard reply is an apology and say that you are working to cut down the lead time on the replacement parts and you are also working to find a technical solution to help prevent the theft of catalytic converters from Toyota vehicles, which undoubtedly are the prime target for the criminals perpetrating this crime.
On the face of it, I suppose there isn’t anything else you can say on this blog, is there?
Now with regards to the Customer Relations Team, all that they have done is offer the same apology again. And when I’ve complained to them about the lack of information in their reply, they then apologise again.
And that’s it! That’s all that my case with Toyota Customer Relations has provided. My insurer’s approved repairer has been more forthcoming with updates than Toyota.
I asked your Customer Relations Team if they would provide answers to a couple of questions, such as what you are going to do to address the fact that many affected Toyota owners have been left without their cars for weeks and months.
I also asked if they would explain why Toyotas are the primary targets of catalytic converter theft.
They didn’t answer any of my questions but apologised that they’d fallen short of my expectations.
It seems that Toyota are a very sorry company!
It also seems that you’re all keeping very tight lipped, which in terms of the new security measures you say you’re researching, I can understand. However, forgive me for saying but it’s almost as if you’re exercising caution to avoid liability.
When my catalytic converter was stolen, there was a square metal plate hanging from underneath the car. This tells me that the vehicle had possibly been targetted before I bought it, and it also tells me that any device fitted to the car to prevent cat theft, will not work. Thieves will just cut through that too.
My car has been with my insurer’s repairer for a month now and still no firm date as to when I might get it back. I’ve renewed my insurance and continue to make finance payments on a car I don’t have use of. During this time, my Toyota five year guarantee has also expired and there’s also a chance my MOT will expire before the car is repaired and returned to me. And here’s a joke for you: my local Toyota dealer have emailed to remind me to book with them for my MOT and annual service!
I’ve told you several times how much I liked my Auris and yet you’ve not said anything to reassure me about being able to continue being a Toyota Hybrid owner; without the threat of my car being targetted again and me having to endure the same circumstances I do now. Is that because you can’t and therefore will indirectly admit that owning one of your cars is indeed a liability?
So, I’ve looked at selling my Auris and buying another make. And yes, I’ll be losing money and yes, there seem to be a lot of used Toyota Hybrids on the market. In saying that, buying a VW Golf or BMW 1 Series as well as any one of several other makes/models is still a viable option. It just won’t be a Hybrid.
Before I decide, let’s have one more go at getting some answers/reassurance from you. And don’t worry about doing it via my individual case, I’m sure other owners will be interested in your answers.
But before I ask the questions, I’d like to tell you about a friend of mine who was a senior technician/ repair consultant at Honda. This chap’s job was to visit Honda franchises and workshops to ensure that used vehicles were serviced and repaired in accordance with the standards set by Hondas chief executives. Their belief was that this would preserve the value of used Hondas and in turn preserve the value and reputation of new Honda cars.
The relevance of that information is that the current situation with Toyota Hybrids is affecting the value of your used vehicles and will ultimately affect the value of new Toyotas as well as your reputation. I know that you’re aware of that but owners of Toyota Hybrids affected by this crime wave are also aware.
So, one last time eh?
Will Toyota be offering an effective preventative security measure to owners of Toyota Hybrids targetted by catalytic converter theft?
If so, will it be offered to us free of cost as a goodwill gesture by Toyota to compensate for the inconvenience caused, which I, and I’m sure everyone else, feels you have some responsibility for?
Are Toyota executives liasing with senior Police and or speaking to MPs as to why this crime seems to be without any consequence to the criminal perpetrators? From the comments here alone, this crime seems so prolific and brazen that there’s nothing to indicate that it will stop or get get worse?
So Toyota, what can you tell me in order to retain my loyalty to what I still think are comfortable, reliable, economic and eco-friendly cars?
Well said. If Toyota can’t find solution to this and police can t stop then surely once we eventually get our new convertors (whenever that will be) they will all be stolen again. Mine was stolen from hospital car park Staffordshire
Very well put.
1) the catloc they are offering is rubbish
2) they are profiteering from catloc sales as much as they may deny it making money out of people’s misery
3) They haven’t answered why is a similar catloc available for £120 and they charge £250 specifically designed what a load of rubbish
I’ve moved my custom from Jemca in Enfield to a local specialist who is amazing and great value, also fitted a Catclamp which has now made the Catalytic converter very secure they took 3 hours to fit and charged £190.
Yes Toyota carry on opening up your customer case that’s really solving the problem
Hi there,
Thanks for getting back in touch. We have emailed you regarding putting you in touch with our customer relations team who will be best placed to answer these queries.
Thanks.
Hi Bikash,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been a victim of this crime. We are working hard to support all our customers who have been impacted by this. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details to open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
You have still not answered the question I repeat.
When Toyota say older cars are being targeted with CAT thefts does this mean cars such as my 1996 Carina CDX ?
Hi David,
Apologies for this. We have not had a Carina reported as having one stolen. However, criminals are using high-grade power saws to remove the catalyst, meaning in reality they easy to remove from any vehicle.
Thanks.
Hi Pete,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are incredibly sorry you have been impacted by this crime and that you feel our response hasn’t helped. We have escalated your customer relations case to one of our Senior Managers and someone will be in touch with you soon.
We would also like to note that we have moved to ensure that the cost to customers of replacement catalytic converters supplied and fitted through our approved service centres is as low as possible, and that TGB doesn’t profit from this.
Thanks.
Thank you for your concern. It is also shared by the dealership who today devalued my car by £3000. So I am now out of pocket by £5000. That being the difference between the price I paid and the resale value plus the cost of replacing the hybrid with a petrol car. I find this wholly unacceptable that so many outlets under the Toyota badge have sought to make a profit from misfortune. I reiterate I had the car 8 days.
Hi Pete,
Thanks for getting back in touch. We have added these comments to your existing customer relations case and someone will be in touch with you soon.
Thanks.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for getting in touch. We don’t want to apologise again, but we do want you to feel like we are listening to you.
We have asked one of our senior customer relations team members to contact you to go through your questions and your full story.
Thanks.
I echo Michael’s excellently put point. What has been on my mind the last few weeks is, “What do I do in a few months time when I get my Prius+ repaired?” Do I keep hold of it and worry every time I park it? How much will I lose on the value since this epidemic is getting worse by the day and nobody in their right mind would buy a used hybrid unless it’s drastically undervalued.
I also feel that having customer relations open a case is pointless. Your customers all need the same answers, so broadcasting what will be done is a much better course of action than sending the same generic template from the CR team apologising.
Please Toyota, take responsibility and give your customers peace of mind!
And once that conversation has happened, Mike, the rest of us reading this blog would certainly appreciate it if you’re able to post an update (not that it should be for you to keep us informed, but still, we’d be grateful). You were absolutely correct when you said, “…let’s have one more go at getting some answers/reassurance from you. And don’t worry about doing it via my individual case, I’m sure other owners will be interested in your answers”.
Sirs,
My catalytic converter was stolen from my car parked on my own driveway on 19th sept and today I’ve just been told today that it’s at least early December before I get a replacement.
My insurer confirmed that on each of his shifts there are at least 2 calls reporting this identical theft… and that’s just one insurance company, one man, on one shift
I class Toyota as being neglect due to poor security design also need to confirm if there is a quality enhancement for this issue.
I am now waiting for the repair and upon receipt, I am immediately selling it to a cash buying company.
TOYOTA, you have lost your reputation and my business by stating “we are sorry about this” and “ fit a catalyst protector for £xxx”, but even these are out of stock
I require Toyota take responsibility for the issue and refund insurance excess costs and offer compensation due to the inadequate security on components installed on this vehicle. It’s not professional or fair to just offer a token apology to loyal customers
Hi John,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are incredibly sorry you have been impacted by this crime. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details to open a customer relations case on your behalf. Our team are working hard to provide support for every customer impacted by this and are assessing cases on an individual basis.
Thanks.
Well I thought that 8 days would be enough for Toyota to get in touch with me about this issue, but obviously I was wrong. Since replying to the request for basic car and owner details on 15th Oct I have heard zip, zero, nil, nowt, buggerall,….
thanks for the customer service Toyota.
Thanks for leaving a customer with a sour taste in his mouth with no feedback.
I’ve spoken to my garage and it looks like I’ll have the hire car for at least 2 months.. at least it’s not a Toyota so there’s little chance of the cat being stole while we wait for a new cat to be shipped from god knows where..
Sorry, but Toyota.. never get one again, they don’t value customers
Hi John,
Thanks for getting back in touch. We are sorry you feel this way, we have looked over your customer relations case and will email you directly to discuss this.
Thanks.
our Lexus 400 is in garage for 4 weeks awaiting the supply for catalytic converter, it was stolen from Princess Royal University hospital car park. Seems that it will be a long wait. Reading all the comments from so many others and neither Lexus or Toyota has any solutions that even it is replaced it will not happen again my advice to all customers is Stop buying hybrid cars from Lexus and Toyota. May be heavy financial loss will push them to find a solution.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry you have been targeted by thieves. We are working hard to support our customers who have been impacted by this situation by assessing each case on an individual basis. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details to open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.