Dodge Charger and Challenger among America’s most stolen cars

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued its list for the most and least stolen vehicles in America and Dodge muscle car owners should take notice – as the Charger and Challenger both appear in the top 10 most stolen cars in America.

The NHTSA list is based on the number of automotive thefts reported to the police per 1,000 vehicles in 2011 with respect to those vehicles with production volumes greater than 5,000 units.  Based on those figures, the Dodge Charger is the most stolen vehicle in America with 4.8 reported thefts per 1,000 vehicles sold.  The Dodge Challenger ranked 10^th on that same list with 2.5 reported thefts per 1,000 vehicles.  On the other hand, there are no Chrysler Group vehicles on the NHTSA’s list of the least stolen vehicles in America.  The full lists of the NHTSA’s most and least stolen vehicles are available below.

NHTSA Most Stolen Vehicles in America (Reported Thefts per 1,000 vehicles)
Dodge Charger 4.8
Mitsubishi Galant 4.5
Hyundai Accent 3.5
Chevrolet Impala 3.4
Chevrolet HHR 3.4
Chevrolet Aveo 3.4
Infiniti FX35 3.1
Kia Rio 2.7
Porsche Panamera 2.7
Dodge Challenger 2.5

NHTSA Least Stolen Vehicles In America
BMW X5 0
Lexus SC 0
Volvo XC70 0
Hyundai Veracruz 0.1
Volvo XC60 0.1
Subaru Forester 0.1
Infiniti EX35 0.2
Toyota Prius 0.2
Mazda Miata 0.2
Lexus CT 0.2

In addition to the lists issued by the NHTSA, a group named the Highway Loss Data Institute issued their own most and least stolen lists.  Unlike the NHTSA, which bases their numbers on vehicles reported stolen to police, the HLDI bases their information on insurance reports.  Based on insurance reports, there are no Chrysler Group vehicles in the top 10 most stolen vehicles in America but there are two on the least stolen list.  The Jeep Compass 4WD is the 10^th most un-stolen car in American while the Dodge Journey 4WD is the #1 least stolen car in the industry.  The HLDI numbers are based on the number of claims from 2010 through 2012 per 1,000 years of insurance coverage. It is an odd way equation but this method does show a different approach to figuring out which vehicle owners stand the biggest chance of having their vehicle stolen.  The full HLDI lists are included below.

Highway Loss Data Institute Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in America (Theft claims for MY 2010 to MY 2012 vehicles per 1,000 years of insurance coverage)
Ford F-250 crew 4WD 7
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew 6.7
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 6.1
GMC Sierra 1500 crew 6
Ford F-350 crew 4WD 5.6
Cadillac Escalade 5.5
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 5.4
GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab 4.7
GMC Yukon 4.5
Chevrolet Tahoe 4.4

Highway Loss Data Institute Top 10 Least Stolen Vehicles in America
Dodge Journey 4WD 0.4
Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD 0.4
Audi A4                0.4
Acura RDX 0.4
Toyota Matrix 0.4
Lexus HS 250 0.4
Honda CR-V 0.4
Hyundai Tucson 4WD 0.4
Toyota Sienna 4WD 0.5
Jeep Compass 4WD 0.5

Source: Automotive News

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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