Toyota Prius Targeted By Catalytic Converter Thieves In California

While his insurance is covering the repair, Glasgow is now left without a car as the insurance won't total the Prius or provide a rental car for longer than a month. He now commutes to work on foot or on a skateboard.

The publication contacted several Toyota parts departments in Southern California to get to the center of the problem. Most admitted that the part wasn't even available, while others said the wait could be as long as nine months. One Toyota employee told theTimesthat "there are thousands on back order."

Partial theft reports for older Prius models have increased by 850% in California, reports the Highway Loss Data Institute, and that's just in a two-year period. Catalytic converter thefts are also on the up, with Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore noting 406 more reported cases in the first five weeks of 2023 than last year.

It's a tricky problem with no obvious solution. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved just a handful of catalytic converters for older Prius models. Toyota charges $1,800, while Magnaflow sells the component for considerably more, at $2,800. Unsurprisingly, both are out of stock.

And it's not a matter of making more catalytic converters, either. Catalytic converters are challenging to manufacture owing to their unique materials. Let's not forget thatautomakers are still battling supply-chain issuesbrought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once newly-manufactured catalytic converters arrive, carmakers have to choose between the replacement part market and the new vehicle market - and new cars almost always take priority. While new cars remain the target of criminals, measures are being put in place to prevent this from happening in the future. The new Prius, for example, is available with a $140 "Cat Shield," whichprotects the component from thieves.

In California, where these thefts appear to be the most common, the government has introduced new laws to mitigate this problem. Lawmakers introduced thePreventing Auto Recycling Theft Act(PART) earlier this year, requiring all new vehicles to emboss the VIN onto the catalytic converter.

This will make it more challenging for criminals to sell the part to scrapyards and auto shops, but it will also make it easier for law enforcement officials to link stolen parts to the targeted vehicle. Individuals will face penalties for trafficking, theft, sale, or purchase of these catalytic converters.

Last year, California also introduced legislationthat makes it illegal to purchase convertersfrom anyone but licensed dealers or auto dismantlers. Whether this helps remains to be seen, as criminals always find a way around laws and regulations.