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.
I have read thru these posts and the same get in touch with our Customer Relations team, keeps appearing. I am now on my 4th Hybrid however I feel that the bof standard reply from Toyota is very poor. £250 for a sheet of metal that covers a design floor that the customers have to pay for. In other words customer are paying for a Toyota design fault. Cat theft is not a new phenomenon, put I feel that the lack of action from Toyota or the guilt trip they put you on is not the right approach for customer retention. Personally I think this sheet of bent metal should be a free if charge factory recall. £250 for a sheet of metal that costs no more than £20. Toyota are taking the Mickey.
Very bad for Toyota,
Hi there
I am very upset to say on 16th Nov Saturday my Auris catalyctic converter has been stolen in the day light from Tesco Car park where lots of CCTV. I just went for shopping for half an hour and it’s gone, I am completely devastated. I have called police they can’t do anything immediately and referred to investigation dept, as a Toyota’s loyal customer I am really unhappy to see how Toyota is not protecting such important parts of the car. Later I have contacted to local dealer and they replaced the catalyctic converter within two days which is great service but its cost me £1306.76. I have asked the dealer how to protect it for future incident and they advised to fit Catloc which is another £250 cost. For peace of mind on 22nd Nov Friday I have fit the catloc. However I feel after paying replacement parts for £1306.76, Toyota should do fit the catloc free of cost to protect car. I am really heartbroken, shattered and speechless of loosing £1506.76 without any reason.
Hi there,
Thanks for your message. We are incredibly sorry to hear you have been a victim of this crime. Our first priority in this situation is to do all we can to support our customers impacted by this situation. With this in mind, we will contact you directly in order to gain additional details and open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
Cat converter on my Auris 2016 model got stolen on Saturday 23/11/19 in London NW6. It’s going to cost me £550 insurance excess and then there is little confidence it wont happen again – more insurance costs at the very least. The Catloc doesn’t sound great either. Toyota need to come forward with a solution.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your comment. We are sorry you have been targeted by criminals and impacted by this situation. We will email you directly in order to gain additional details and open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
again like many others last week we had our catalytic convertor stolen from outside our house early evening, my husband ran after them but was too late (as it takes very little time to take the bolts off etc) we are dismayed the Prius is a dream to drive and all that we wanted in a car, but it seems that there is definitely a security design fault on the part of Toyota, crazy to think that your wheels are protected but not a very expensive part underneath, it will take up to 2 months to have it fixed luckily we have a courtesy car on our policy some people are not so lucky, never had to claim off of our insurance for theft before and so near Christmas now we are extremely concerned that like many it will happen again! Toyota need to do a quick fix on this matter as the precious metal used has soared in price so it would be to your advantage to sort it ASAP please can you advise us as many others how we can protect our cars , the police can only do so much they are swamped with these calls three where taken in our village alone that night, and four in the next town as well as the week before when four were taken from cars parked in the county council offices while they were at work! let alone the ones in the local massive shopping car parks three miles away where they have been taking them in broad daylight while people are shopping!!! this car is wonderful but someone has over looked a serious error on the design of where the cat is placed, surely for such an expensive car new and second hand this should not be!
Hi there,
Thank you for getting in touch with us. We are so sorry you have been a victim of this crime and for the distress this may have caused. We are working to support all our customers who have been impacted by this and we will email you directly in order to open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
I had my Auris Catalytic convertor stolen just over 8 weeks ago. I haven’t even received a date for the part being available as yet. My MOT is due shortly and I obviously cannot tax my vehicle as its not drivable so have the added hassle of declaring it off road. Its been a massive inconvenience not having a car for this long with no end in sight. Feel very let down by Toyota.
Hi Zareen,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We are sorry you have been impacted by this crime. Our customer relations team are able to track parts and will be able to help you further. We will email you directly in order to open a case on your behalf.
Thanks.
The catalytic converter on my Toyota Auris has been stolen. Apart from the painful waiting game of getting car fixed, I am left out of pocket paying £250 and losing my no claims bonus. This crime will happen again and again. Forget the catloc, it’s a useless supposed solution like putting a plaster on an open cut. What is your real solution? I will keep getting penailsed by insurance company for the biggest mistake I unconsciously made, buying a Toyota Hybrid. Where is the accountability-it should start with replacing every customer’s stolen part without punishing us. Thanks in advance for including this in your policy. Facing new, concerned customers in your Toyota stores must be a real concern if you can’t promise them you’ll recover this popular stunt thieves are performing. Stick that into your guarantee – we are not responsible for crimes like this done in broad daylight.
Hi there,
Thanks for your message. We are incredibly sorry you have been a victim of this crime and for the distress this may have caused. We are working to support all our customers impacted by this and will email you directly in order to open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.
again as many others we had ours stolen off of our Prius last Thursday, we live on a main road so was in full view of passing cars, it was only 7.15pm
we love this car we saved hard to get a one as it was exactly what we wanted and now because of a security over sight on Toyotas design it was taken within minutes, my husband nearly caught them in the act as you can see our car from our front window but did not get there quick enough because it takes minutes to take it off
cannot understand that on a car wheels are protected but a very expensive catalytic convertor is not! its the first time we have had to use our insurance which will cost us £350 excess through no fault of our own,
our local Toyota did not seem to be interested probably because they have had so many calls just want to secure our car so it does not happen again!
no one seems to have a solution and apparently the lock you can buy which again costs us can be sawn off just takes them a little longer to get off
we need a quick solution
the same night they took three from our village and then in a town near us they took four off of a car forecourt last week there was several taken at our local council offices car park while people were working in broad daylight! again in broad daylight at our local massive shopping park while people shopped this has got to stop! there must be a solution?
we were going to have to wait 2 months at least that didn’t happen and was only a week or so because they had an unexpected large delivery but this is going to happen over and over again
please can you come up with a better solution than a lock
The early Honda Jazz is also on the list for theft of the catalytic converter
I work in hospital and left my Toyota Auris hybrid at the hospital car park. I came back to the car realise the engine sound has changed. RAC driver attended to the car and found two bolts underneath the car. The catalytic converter was gone. The car can move but the noise is unbearable. How do l replace this
Hi there,
Thanks for your message. We are so sorry you have been impacted by this crime. The catalytic converter will need replacing and we would recommend having a Catloc fitted by your nearest Toyota centre. In order to help you further with this, we will email you directly so that we can understand the specifics of your situation and put you in touch with our customer relations team.
Thanks.
What is Toyota doing about this problem. My car converter has just been stolen today. I have contacted Toyota and I’ve been told it a £1050 +. This is heart rending!! I will never buy a Toyota car in my life again. How could you leave such an expensive part exposed!! This is out of order. Where can I get such a huge sum to fix this car? Toyota, you need to do something!! This is not fair in you customers.
Hi Kadija,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are so sorry to hear you have been impacted by this crime and for the distress this may have caused. We aim to help all our customers who have been impacted by this and will email you directly in order to open a customer relations case on your behalf.
Thanks.