Dodge Charger and Challenger are sales leaders in their respective segments, but they are also favorites among car thieves.
Follow us today...
The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) recently issued its list of the most stolen cars for the 2016 through 2018 model years and in addition to topping the list, the Dodge Charger and Challenger each appear on the list several times. For those wondering, the Highway Loss Data Institute is a branch of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. So in conducting this survey, the group is really looking at the impact on insurance costs more than anything, but for owners, this serves as a stark reminder to secure your Mopar muscle cars.
Dodge Charger, Challenger – America’s Most Wanted
According to the HLDI, the most commonly stolen vehicle in the United States from the 2016, 2017 and 2018 model years is the Dodge Charger Hemi. That is kind of vague, since there are a handful of trim levels packing Hemi power, but with no mention of other trim levels, we can guess that this applies to the R/T with the 5.7-liter Hemi, the Scat Pack with the 6.4-liter Hemi and the Hellcat with the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi.
We will talk more about the V6-powered Chargers in a minute, as they are on the list as well.
The second most commonly stolen vehicle in the USA is the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. While the HLDI was vague about the Charger in the top spot, it is not vague about the second spot, detailing it down to the trim level. As one of the most powerful cars in “basic” Hellcat form, the supercharged Challenger is obviously a hot target for thieves looking to harvest the engine and transmission.
The Dodge Challenger appears again in the sixth spot without any detail, the Dodge Charger AWD is in the 11th spot and the Dodge Charger pops up again in the 15th position. So of the top 15 most commonly stolen vehicles in America, the Dodge Charger and Challenger account for a third of them.
GM Trucks are Popular, Too
After the Charger and Challenger start the list, the Infiniti Q50 sedan is third and the Infiniti QX80 is fourth, while the GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab rounds out the top five. The closely related Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab is in eighth, the four wheel drive version of the Chevy is 14th, the non-crew cab Silverado is 17th and the four wheel drive version of the GMC is 18th.
Below, we have included the HLDI list of the most commonly stolen vehicles in America, which includes the top 19 most-loved vehicles by thieves.
- Dodge Charger Hemi
- Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
- Infiniti Q50 Sedan
- Inifiniti QX80
- GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab
- Dodge Challenger
- Nissan Maxima
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
- Chrysler 300 AWD
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class Long Wheelbase 4WD Sedan
- Dodge Charger 4WD
- Dodge Durango 4WD
- Land Rover Range Rover
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4WD
- Dodge Charger
- Nissan Titan Crew Cab Short Bed
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 4WD
- Audi A7 4WD
Watch the 3 new wheel changes that the 2020 Dodge Charger Widebody Hellcat requires and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube channel for daily Dodge and automotive news analysis.
Patrick Rall @TheAutoBeard is the Managing Editor of Torque News. Please follow us on Twitter at @TorqueNewsAuto, Facebook and send us tips. You can also Follow Patrick on Youtube.
Follow us today...
It is an interesting list
It is an interesting list because it is mostly Dodge cars and Chevy trucks. In the past the most stolen vehicles were the most common cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla because thieves could sell the stolen parts anywhere, there was no tracking, plus there was a huge used part market. I have to think that there is some vulnerability for Dodge cars and Chevy trucks to be stolen in an age of high tech security systems and tracking capability. The Chevy Silverado is an obvious target because it is one of the best selling vehicles in the U.S. which guarantees supply of trucks and demand for parts. But then why isn't the Ford F150 on this list? Most Silverados probably have OnStar, which would allow for vehicle tracking and disabling, but there have to be work-arounds that the thieves are using. Two of my cars have manual transmissions which are a good theft deterrent for casual theft because so many people simply cannot drive a stick. I have external accessory battery cutoffs in two of my cars, but that has drawbacks as well. I would seriously think of hiding a LoJack or other GPS tracking device if I owned a Hellcat powered car.