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These Were The 10 Most Stolen Cars In America Last Year

Lifestyle 7 Hours Ago
The Drive — James Gilboy


On average, a car is stolen every 40 seconds in the United States.

So says the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which states that vehicle theft is at its highest in 50 years, even with advancements to security and theft prevention technologies. On Tuesday, the NICB released its annual report of the nation's car theft. It identifies both the most stolen models of 2017 and the most stolen vehicles across the nation's history, specifying which model years of the latter group is at the highest risk.

Below is the NICB's list of the 10 vehicles stolen most in the 2017 calendar year, their most stolen model year, and the respective number of thefts of each model in that period.

1. Honda Civic: 45,062 thefts (most stolen year: 1998, with 6,707 thefts)
2. Honda Accord: 43,764 thefts (most stolen year: 1997, with 6,301 thefts)
3. Ford F-Series: 35,105 thefts (most stolen year: 2006, with 3,151 thefts)
4. Chevy pickups: 30,058 thefts (most stolen year: 2004, with 1,970 thefts)
5. Toyota Camry: 17,278 thefts (most stolen year: 2017, with 1,100 thefts)
6. Nissan Altima: 13,358 thefts (most stolen year: 2016, with 1,450 thefts)
7. Toyota Corolla: 12,337 thefts (most stolen year: 2016, with 1,012 thefts)
8. Ram/Dodge Ram: 12,004 thefts (most stolen year: 2001, with 1,242 thefts)
9. GMC pickups: 10,865 thefts (most stolen year: 2017, with 957 thefts)
10.Chevy Impala: 9,487 thefts (most stolen year: 2008, with 991 thefts)

Of these ten, five also make the NICB's list of the most stolen 2017 model year vehicles, detailed below.

1. Nissan Altima: 1,153
2. Toyota Camry: 1,100
3. GMC Pickups: 957
4. Hyundai Elantra: 929
5. Ford Fusion: 874
6. Ford F-Series: 842
7. Ram/Dodge Ram: 835
8. Toyota Corolla: 832
9. GMC Savana: 774
10.Hyundai Sonata: 759

Both the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry appear on the two lists, with 2016 Altima thefts being even more common than with the following model year. One major standout among 2017 vehicles is the GMC Savana, the only van to make either list. Presumably, that's because it's used almost exclusively as a work vehicle instead of a lifestyle vehicle the way many pickups are and can carry valuable tools, building materials, or other work-related cargo.

But why do thieves seem to target one vehicle over another?

"One factor for sure—popularity," explained NICB public affairs director Frank Scafidi to The Drive. "For years, Hondas and Toyotas have shared the most stolen title, and a lot of it has to do with the sheer numbers of those vehicles produced and sold—and still operating—over the years. More targets, more potential to get stolen, especially when drivers make it easy for thieves by leaving their cars running or leaving the keys in them. However, after the introduction of smart keys in 1998, Honda thefts have dropped off substantially."

What's the best way to avoid having your car stolen? The NICB has four suggestions, which start with the obvious: Lock your car, and don't leave your keys inside.

"A good number of thefts occur because people make it easy for thieves," continued Scafidi. "The most secure car on the planet is vulnerable if the driver fails to take the time to employ that security. Leaving keys or fobs in the vehicle is another human-introduced security offset."

"In the past, there have been some makes and models that were just easy to steal either through a design flaw or the use of a 'bump key'—a key that is ground down a bit to work effectively in the ignitions of many models from a manufacturer. But those tricks have been overcome by improvements in both manufacturing and security (smart keys; keyless ignitions, et cetera)," Scafidi concluded.

The NICB also suggests investing in theft-deterring warning devices such as alarms, and if such a thing doesn't dissuade car thieves, it also recommends immobilizers or vehicle trackers, to either prevent the car's disappearance or allow the vehicle to be hunted down, ideally with the perp nearby. Smart keys aren't perfect, so The Drive would also like to add another theft deterrent to the list: a manual transmission.

I have to unhook my battery at night due to a short draining it. At least untill I locate the problem. That should deter them from stealing my 20 year old Buick Park Ave by golly...

i have had a few of them i live in nh and have always had a dog and a gun no one has ever messed with my stuff

Curious how long the list would need to be to include my Dodge Grand Caravan....lol.

My Toyota Corolla is on the list, but it's a 2009. The article isn't very specific on which years or ranges of years are stolen, just that the most stolen year was '16.

I like (sarcasm) something else the article said, about alarms. Almost all car alarms are false; nobody pays any attention to them other to be annoyed. They are pretty much a joke, like Amber Alerts. Thread about Amber Alerts If combined with an anti-theft device, they often malfunction and leave the rightful owner walking.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
I have to unhook my battery at night due to a short draining it. At least untill I locate the problem. That should deter them from stealing my 20 year old Buick Park Ave by golly...

Take the bulb out of the trunk light,had that problem on a 1962 Pontiac Catalina

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
I have to unhook my battery at night due to a short draining it. At least untill I locate the problem. That should deter them from stealing my 20 year old Buick Park Ave by golly...

LOL if you wrote free on it I think you would still need to hook your battery back up in the morning!

Yep, my F-150 is on the list, no surprise.

We’ve a late model Honda, always garage parked.

I’ve used this VIN etching company on all of our vehicles. I manually etch the VIN onto the inside area of the rims also. Even the spare. At least it’s a deterrent and in some cases might get you a discount with your insurance company. If I don’t get the car back, fine. If it puts a thief in jail for a long time, we all win!

https://www.vinetching.com

Nope. Not on the list!
Acura TL
Chevy Tahoe
Toyota 4Runner.

Corollas? Really? Why?

I can't imagine a more plain vanilla, invisible car than a Corolla and I've owned two.

My civic is older and has been stolen. I'd love for it to go missing now.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Corollas? Really? Why? ...

Plain Jane but immensely popular car. Stolen for parts.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Corollas? Really? Why?

Parts

Easiest way to avoid car theft is get a manual transmission.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Corollas? Really? Why?

I can't imagine a more plain vanilla, invisible car than a Corolla and I've owned two.

That's why. The trends seems to follow whatever some of the most popular vehicles are, especially generic ones, easier to hide in plain sight, more demand, more parts, easier to switch plates with another similar vehicle and not stand out, more reliable vehicles. etc.

Or so I was told.

I'm surprised our Challenger hasn't been stolen. My wife has a BAD habit of leaving her fob in the center dash

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Corollas? Really? Why?

I can't imagine a more plain vanilla, invisible car than a Corolla and I've owned two.

Corollas hold their value like no other car out there - save certain Hondas. Parts for Corollas, therefore, command a pretty penny.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Corollas? Really? Why?

Parts

Parts like, for example, air bags by shady repair shops? I can't imagine a "ricer" wanting one to "trick out." They haven't even been made in a two-door or hatchback since probably the late 80s.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

Toyota 4Runner.

These have been targets for catalytic converter theft. The high ground clearance and reasonably accessible exhaust makes it easy for somebody to slide under it with a cordless Sawzall and cut the cat out.