Catalytic converter theft from cars isn’t a new crime, but it has increased significantly in recent times.
Police forces around the UK, including those in West Yorkshire, London and Suffolk, are advising owners of any car fitted with a catalytic converter to take precautions.
Any car fitted with a catalytic converter could be at risk. 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 cars sold in Europe since 1993 have had to be fitted with 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 in the main, the value of the catalytic converter for recycling is the main attraction to thieves, because they contain precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium.
What is Toyota doing to stop its cars being targeted?
In May 2021, Toyota (GB) announced that it would be covertly marking more than 100,000 catalytic converters in order to combat theft. By working with police and Smartwater, catalytic converters can be tagged with an invisible yet traceable marking, meaning 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.
It is free to get the catalytic converter marked, all customers need to do is call their local Toyota or Lexus retailer to arrange a visit.
In addition to this, Toyota has issued 20,000 Smartwater kits to police to support their local anti-catalyst theft initiatives. The company is also working with the AA, Toyota’s roadside partner, so its patrols can point customers to where they can get a free kit.
We have also developed and reduced the price of a ‘Catloc’ device which can deter theft and make it more difficult. Toyota teams in the UK and other countries are urgently exploring new technical possibilities to deter criminals as well.
We are working with the police, as well as talking to government about changes in the law around scrap metal sales that would make it harder for criminals to sell stolen catalysts for cash.
However, these are criminal operations and our scope is therefore limited. A number of police forces are taking action and some forces, such as Nottinghamshire, are also starting awareness campaigns. It is vitally important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it to their local police force as quickly as possible.
In the main, it remains older cars that are targeted because advances in efficiency and technology mean the latest generations of Toyota catalytic converters contain vastly lower amounts of precious metals, whilst 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 Catloc 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 catalytic converters ‘unstealable’. A Catloc makes it harder to steal a catalytic converter, slowing thieves down and acting as a deterrent. As mentioned above, we’re doing all we can to seek further technical options for customers.
Is Catloc available for my Toyota?
Catloc devices are available for a growing proportion of our range, but not all. We recommend speaking to your local Toyota centre.
How much does it cost to replace a catalytic converter?
Toyota’s first priority is to do all we can to support our customers who have been victims of crime.
We have moved to reduce the prices of replacement catalytic converters and Catlocs to a level where Toyota GB does not make any profit from supplying them to customers.
Your nearest Toyota centre can advise on exact costs after inspecting your vehicle.
Is it true that there is a long wait for replacement catalytic converter parts for Toyota cars?
The rapid rise in this crime in 2019 is one we could not have envisaged, set against many years of low incidence of catalytic converter theft. This initially impacted our ability to source enough of the parts we needed in some cases, for which we sincerely apologise.
Toyota has restarted production lines in Japan and France that made catalysts for many of the older models targeted in order to supply affected owners, developed a Catloc security device which helps deter theft (and has been granted a “Sold Secure with Gold Status” security ranking) and ensured it makes no profit at all from the sale of replacement catalysts or from Catlocs, providing them at cost.
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 13 May 2021, so some of the responses to reader comments below have been superseded by more recent information.
Another victim here in south London. Thieves stole the catalytic converter from my Prius 2nd Gen on 7th September around 8pm. Like many others, I wasn’t informed of the risk when I visited Toyota dealership multiple times. If I knew the risk, I would have asked them to fit the CatLoc but it’s too late now. Who would check the website or this blog before you get involved?
Hi K,
Thanks for getting in touch. We’re sorry to hear that criminals have targeted your vehicle.
Police advice was published online as soon as possible, and we have tried to ensure that as many of our customers as possible are aware of this crime.
We have also engaged with many different organisations to try and raise the crime’s profile and identify existing legislation issues.
If you would like to discuss your situation further, our customer relations team are best placed to offer advice and support.
They can be contacted, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we are sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
Thanks.
Hi Shoaib,
Thanks for your comment. We’re extremely sorry to hear that thieves have targeted your vehicle.
We’re glad to hear that the CatLoc offered some protection against these criminals.
Customer relations are best placed to advise you if you wish to discuss your situation further, and they can be contacted, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/
Thanks.
Hello,
Outrage.
I’ve been stolen the catalytic converter twice in 3 weeks!
How can this be such an issue that is leading me to avoid buying a new hybrid!
Such a shame.
Hi Santiago,
Thanks for getting in touch. We’re so sorry to hear that you have been the victim of this crime.
For our newer hybrids, we have taken action to reduce the precious metal content of our catalytic converters by up to 84% in order to make these less attractive to criminals.
We have also produced CatLocs for those vehicles considered most at risk and are supplying these at zero profit.
If you wish to discuss your situation further, you can contact our customer relations team, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
We are really sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
Thanks.
I’ve been in touch with local Toyota dealership. I called them on Monday and asked to have a repair estimate sent to my email so that I could send it over to the insurance company. Waited for a day and no email received. I called them on Wednesday to chase them. No luck till today. They could at least send me the estimate without delay. Thank you for your helpful customer support.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We’re sorry to hear that you were unhappy with your experience at one of our dealerships.
If you wish to raise your situation further, we would recommend contacting our customer relations team, who are best placed to offer any necessary support.
They can be contacted, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Thanks.
Up to the 20th August we were very happy and satisfied with our Auris Hybrid but on that day our Catalitic Converter was stolen due to design deficiency by Toyota.
If I left over a thousand pounds on my dashboard it would be no surprise to have it stolen but Toyota designed the equivalent replacement value Catalytic Converter secured by two easily removed bolts under the car.
Toyota state they are doing all they can to prevent these thefts !!!!! We have had no information from Toyota or our Toyota Dealer regarding this and there was no mention of the risk in the recent Toyota Auris Recall dated 7th August or at any our service visits. Whilst Toyota UK state they are making no profit from these thefts I am sure this does not apply to their Dealerships.
It is a WIN-WIN for the thieves and the Toyota Dealerships installing replacements, and a LOOSE-LOOSE for us owners having to pay for replacements, Increased Insurance premiums, plus purchasing a Catloc to hopefully stop a repeat occurrence. It is also a LOOSE-LOOSE for Toyota their reputation is totally tarnished and they are loosing any future purchases from us disgruntled current owners.
Please do not reply with you usual platitudes of being sorry but advise us on how you are going to contact other Auris and Prius owners and what steps (if any) you are going to make to give us owners some redress for your design deficiency regarding the security of the Catalytic Converter.
As you will understand we are totally unimpressed with Toyota and their Local Dealership in Loughborough.
I had a medical appointment today (and another tomorrow) – both of which now cancelled and long postponement. I went to start my car and lo and behold it sounded like it was going to take off. Called the AA and was told the catalytic converter was stolen. He said that it was the easiest to do in Toyota in general and in particular the Prius. I have read that the older the model the more valuable the catalytic converters are. It would be a nice gesture if Toyota would offer to fit a lock at cost price.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. We’re really sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals.
We completely understand how distressing this must be.
Over time, we have developed and are supplying CatLocs at zero profit to ToyotaUK in order to try and prevent further attacks.
We would recommend contacting our customer relations team if you wish to discuss your situation further, as they are best placed to offer any necessary support.
They can be contacted, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we are truly sorry for any distress that has been caused by this theft.
Thanks.
I have been a victim for the second time in 6 months, Catalytic converter of Auris stolen. I have completely lost my trust in the Toyota brand as this is clearly a design flaw and the company has done nothing for their existing customers to replace the item free or provide a lock that 100% stops the theft happening. For sure I will never ever in my life buy a Toyota and advice my friend and family the same. I have been a customer of Toyota for 15 years now. I have started to hate the car and will look to replace it very soon.
Dear Customer service don’t please don’t bother to send me a standard reply unless you can provide a genuine solution that will stop the costs.
I will make sure every car selling social media site has for my negative post about your company as genuinely I am very disappointed and frustrated by the mockery you make of your customers.
Thanks
Tejpal
Dear Toyota (make sure the manager’s see this – it is not a thread, but an advice from a professional). I get it, you are actually not at fault, you could not have foreseen the incredible twenty-fold increase in rhodium prices. Mostly likely it is only a bubble and it will blow over in a year or two. However, you are making a fools out of yourselves. You, of all manufacturers should know that your customers went with you because of the reinforcing word of mouth loop or reliability. If you do not step up in this case, that will very quickly turn into a negative bashing feedback loop. C’mon, don’t consider people stupid. They are not here to hear that you are sorry. Or to hear that you “have engaged” with police. I see two solutions – and the only way pretty much to wiggle your way out of this, in my opinion (as a business policy modeler) – 1. either you do a callback (yes, I know, difficult to justify to the bosses in Aichi, as it is not a strictly safety-related issue). Automatically fit catlocks+tilt alarms (maybe even GPS trackers into the cats perhaps?) for free – and yes, that would include going back to the Gen 2 Priuses, too.. I understand that these are often at the end of their life and it is financial non-sense from your perspective – but remember that reputation has a price too – and this is spreading like wildfire, just look at Youtube, the Californian forums, etc.. Sometimes is the highest price (and let’s be real: that sheet of metal does NOT cost 250 pounds for you, when you can pick up an exact replica on Ebay for one tenth) – or, 2. do not “engage” with the police, but use your political and financial capital to put IMMENSE pressure on them to set up some sting operation and scoop up the gangs (the poor Romanians boys in the clips are obviously just used and maybe get a tenner for each nick). The scale of the theft epidemic is so large that it must be addressed head on. You are killing your entire hybrid market. Saying that newer cats have 86% less palladium in them is a meeting room answer by a smart suit – and people feel that. Let’s be real guys, these are THOUSANDS of people – just 1300 here on this forum, at least ten times more on Youtube and toyotaownersclub! You have sold 70k Hybrid Aurises and 85k Priuses so far in the UK. This could mean that in just one year 10-20% of all of these models are affected. This a game-changer, not usual times really need to double down on this and tell us that you are taking either of those two routes above – or the customer rage will spiral out of control sooner or later. And I am sure that you know more than me, that typical Toyota customers are very loyal people – the type that can hate with just as much furor as thy can love with. I also know that this is a much bigger issue than you or general public security degradation in the country and police underfunding – but c’mon, you’re also Toyota. I also know that you as Toyota often might as well think about getting out of the UK as a whole as it is just not worth the trouble, it is a “fallen country” so to speak – and your largest European market.
I just want to add my voice to the frustration that thousands of Toyota loyal customers are feeling about catalytic converter thefts. Mine was stolen last year, and I tried to persuade Toyota and my insurance company at that point to agree to fit a lock as part of the insurance claim, but they refused. So I now have replacement converter that is at the same level of risk of theft as my previous one. Only last night a neighbour interupted a theft. So I now have to pay £250 for a lock, which isn’t even a full guarantee, for a toyota design fault. Given this is a well publicised form of theft, you’d think Toyota would have given in by now and agreed a recall to fit locks and weld bolts for free. I also do not believe £250 is a not for profit cost.
I have a Yaris 2001 (Y) plate which has been the subject of a cat theft during the last week in a residential area of Nottingham where I live.
As other victims have stated, it is a very stressful experience. Finding this site and reading through all the comments, as well as reviewing various information sources available on the internet, has been a sobering experience indeed. It has highlighted how commonplace this crime is, yet there appears to be little that can be done about it constructively, either by owners, the police or indeed Toyota. Owners appear to be helpless and trapped in a vicious circle of throwing good money after bad in terms of purchasing ineffective deterrents (cat locks, tilt detection devices, CCTV, etc), funding replacement either personally or via insurers (resulting in increased future premiums with a high likelihood that theft will recur) or trying to sell the vehicle before theft strikes again. It is also evident that taking precautionary measures, as advised by the police and industry bodies (parking location, position, etc), are ineffectual. Thieves will continue their activities as blatantly as they like.
I mirror the various comments made throughout this forum regarding Toyota’s refusal to take real ownership of this problem. Again, as so many others have mentioned, Toyota needs to step up to the plate or risk dramatic falls in customers across the world due to their complacency.
I am now left considering the options available to me. This Yaris is actually my first car which I have driven for 15 years. The car is in good condition with only 70k miles on the clock. and to date has served me well with excellent reliability. Up until now I was of the mindset to continue with Toyota throughout my driving life – but not any more. Due to the age of the vehicle and the current market value it is likely to be written off by insurers so I have to consider my options very carefully. I do not want or need the continual stress associated with a theft recurrence whilst using or parking my car.
I want to highlight on this platform that it appears that in addition to the hybrid models, other Toyota vehicles are also being targeted, albeit I appreciate that in my case my vehicle may have been targeted due to its age.
In the meantime my empathy goes to all the Toyota owners who have been victims of this crime.
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch.
We’re truly sorry to hear that you’ve been affected by this crime.
If you wish to speak to our customer relations team, you can contact them, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
They are best placed to assist you should you wish to raise your situation further.
We are really sorry for any distress that has been caused by this crime.
Thanks.
Had my Cat stolen back in June. Went through my insurance and paid the £350 excess for a replacement. Car was returned but then seemed to pick up other issues, with the car shaking and running rough. It went back to the garage and they said there were further issues not relating to the Cat being stolen. Had a quote of £1600 from Toyota to reset this battery. Clearly can’t afford this right now so I got them to return the car last week and had it towed to my local friendly garage so he could look at it. He fully stripped and replaced the main battery for £500 and got the car running fine…but there was no Cat in the car.
Yes…within the week that I had the car back it had been stolen again. Firstly, Toyota were charging £1600 to reset some codes and flush the system, and secondly my replacement Catalytic converter lasted around 3-4 days. I have camera footage of the people doing it the first time but the police weren’t interested. I basically led them to the door but they didn’t want to lift a finger. There is nothing being done about this and I don’t think there ever will be.
Hi Joel,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We’re really sorry to hear you’ve been affected by this crime.
If you wish to discuss your situation further, we would recommend contacting our customer relations team, who are best placed to provide further support.
You can contact them, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we appreciate the distress caused by this crime and are truly sorry that your vehicle has been targeted.
Thanks.
TIME FOR A CLASS ACTION AGAINST TOYOTA
The theft of catalytic converters from Prius and Auris models is the result of a FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW – since they are easily accessible (to thieves).
TOYOTA KNEW THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO – the Auris was replaced by the new Corolla in 2018, in which the catalytic converter is held within the engine rather than attached below – ie inaccessible unless in a garage. Thus the design flaw was rectified several years ago.
HOWEVER, Auris continued to be sold, without any alerts or cat locks installed.
I bought my high spec demo model with 1,000 miles on the clock in May 2019.
£18,000. Seemed a good deal.
The cat converter has been stolen twice. Now it cannot be replaced for months due to lack of supply, and there is no point anyway as it will be stolen again.
Toyota so far have been unreceptive to taking responsibility. I have asked them to buy it off me and deal with it and they tell me its worth £8,000. Outrageous.
The reasons I have been a faithful Toyota customer for 30 years include the fact these cat are reliable and old their value. Not any more.
These cars are for those with garages, and probably in the country. That could, and should, have been said. I was trading in a Prius and could have bought a number of models. Instead I am in this great loss, and mess, with an insurance rating which is off the charts.
This issue was reported in the Guardian in April 2019 (dont read the Guardian unfortunately) so TOYOTA KNEW – and DID NOT SAY.
FOOLISH TO BE TRUSTFUL
Hi Philippa,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. We’re truly sorry for any distress that has been caused by this crime.
We recommend speaking with our customer relations team. They are best placed to offer further guidance, and they can be contacted here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
We apologise once again for any upset that has been caused by these thefts.
Thanks.
Yet another one Toyota I had my cat stolen of my hybrid in chingford yesterday. In broad daylight. Why wasn’t we told about this problem when we had our recall
Hi Samantha,
Thanks for your comment. We’re really sorry to hear you’ve been affected by this crime and completely understand the distress you must be experiencing.
We would recommend speaking with our customer relations team if you wish to raise your situation further as they are best placed to offer any necessary support.
You can contact them, here: https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
Once again, we are truly sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals.
Thanks.