Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango Make Most Stolen Vehicles List
Dodge has made its performance lineup a little too desirable. They’re among the most stolen vehicles in the country.
Automakers do their best to create appealing vehicles. They spend years trying to determine the right combination of design, interior dimensions, features, safety equipment, and power that will make a particular car or SUV a hit in the marketplace. The problem with a successful model is that car companies cannot control who gets exposed to it. Potential buyers see hot cars and picture buying them. Thieves look at certain vehicles and swipe them.
In fact, they’ve boosted so Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Durangos that those models are on a list of most stolen vehicles, according to USA Today.
Numbers Don’t Lie
A study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) measured how likely it is for a 2016-2018 model year vehicle to get swiped. The newness of the cars alone makes them prime targets, but the vehicles on the top 20 list also happen to be relatively expensive, which gives criminals an added financial incentive.
Modern cars have advanced theft prevention technologies that make them harder to steal than older vehicles. Unfortunately, many owners negate the positive effects of those features by leaving their key fobs in their vehicles. When they do that, all a car thief has to do is hop in, press the brake pedal, push the start button, and take off. No smashed window, no slim jim, no struggle.
Chart-topper
As the top 20 list shows, car thieves still go after the usual vehicles you’d expect them to focus on, such as the Mercedes-Benz S Class and the Land Rover Range Rover. They’re also open to pretty much any type of Challenger and Charger. And they’re fine with taking the Dodge Charger’s Chrysler 300 cousin. Take a look at the top 20 most stolen 2016-2018 model year vehicles below.
1.) Dodge Charger HEMI
2.) Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
3.) Infiniti QX50
4.) Infiniti QX80
5.) GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab
6.) Dodge Challenger
7.) Nissan Maxima
8.) Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab
9.) Chrysler 300 (AWD)
10.) Mercedes-Benz S-Class (4MATIC)
11.) Dodge Charger (AWD)
12.) Dodge Durango (AWD)
13.) Land Rover Range Rover
14.) Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab (4X4)
15.) Dodge Charger
16.) Nissan Titan crew cab short bed
17.) Chevrolet Silverado 1500
18.) GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab (4X4)
19.) Audi A7 (quattro)
20.) Infiniti QX80 (4X4)
So the next time you run to the grocery store, be sure to take your key fob with you. Only you are allowed to drive your Dodge like you stole it.
Photos: Fiat Chrysler
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