Stratus, Intrepid at top of theft-rate list
Stratus, Intrepid at top of theft-rate list
Montero, Tundra also high in 2003
August 10, 2005
BY JOHN HUGHES
BLOOMBERG
DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge Stratus and Intrepid cars were stolen at the highest rates in the United States in 2003 for vehicles of that model year, as the rate for all cars and trucks fell 26%, according to government figures.
Theft rates of 2003 model vehicles
Preliminary report of vehicles stolen in the 2003 calendar year
Rank Vehicle Thefts Production Theft rate per 1,000 vehicles
1 Dodge Stratus 682 62,496 10.9127
2 Dodge Intrepid 392 40,366 9.7111
3 Mitsubishi Montero 94 13,604 6.9097
4 Mitsubishi Diamante 57 9,981 5.7109
5 Toyota Tundra 162 28,981 5.5899
6 Chrysler Sebring 180 35,599 5.0563
7 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 174 35,508 4.9003
8 Mitsubishi Galant 468 97,418 4.8040
9 Jaguar XJR 4 845 4.7337
10 Dodge Neon 590 127,902 4.6129
11 Chrysler Sebring Convertible 61 13,337 4.5737
12 Chrysler Concorde 61 13,690 4.4558
13 Chrysler 300M 61 13,719 4.4464
14 Suzuki Aerio 150 33,931 4.4207
15 Ford Mustang 598 143,823 4.1579
16 Nissan Sentra 293 71,734 4.0845
17 Oldsmobile Alero 333 86,229 3.8618
18 Mitsubishi Lancer 283 75,585 3.7441
19 Jaguar XK8 8 2,151 3.7192
20 Volvo S40 111 3,014 3.6496
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The theft frequency was 11 per 1,000 produced for the Dodge Stratus and 10 per 1,000 for the Dodge Intrepid, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a notice in the Federal Register Tuesday. Toyota Motor Corp.'s Corolla car led in total stolen with 786 and ranked 49th by rate.
The rate for all vehicles fell to 1.84 from 2.49 a year earlier, the Washington-based agency said. The frequency at which new models are stolen has been dropping for a decade as automakers use more antitheft devices and mark parts, and as law-enforcement and public awareness improves, NHTSA said.
Max Gates, a spokesman for DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group, said he wasn't sure why the automaker's cars topped the list. Auburn Hills-based Chrysler accounted for seven of the 15 vehicles with the highest theft rates.
Chrysler offers an immobilizer system on most of its Dodge and Chrysler vehicles that prevents the engine from being started without a key. The immobilizer is offered as part of an option package that includes power windows and doors.
"Some of our dealers are ordering 100% of their vehicles equipped with that," Gates said. The system was developed several years ago after discussions with police officers, he said.
The other cars and trucks among the five with the highest rates were Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s Montero SUV at 7, and the Mitsubishi Diamante car and Toyota Tundra pickup at 6 each.
Ford Motor Co.'s Taurus car was second in number of total thefts at 757, followed by the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan minivan at 725, the Stratus at 682 and General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet Cavalier car at 633.
August 10, 2005
BY JOHN HUGHES
BLOOMBERG
DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge Stratus and Intrepid cars were stolen at the highest rates in the United States in 2003 for vehicles of that model year, as the rate for all cars and trucks fell 26%, according to government figures.
Theft rates of 2003 model vehicles
Preliminary report of vehicles stolen in the 2003 calendar year
Rank Vehicle Thefts Production Theft rate per 1,000 vehicles
1 Dodge Stratus 682 62,496 10.9127
2 Dodge Intrepid 392 40,366 9.7111
3 Mitsubishi Montero 94 13,604 6.9097
4 Mitsubishi Diamante 57 9,981 5.7109
5 Toyota Tundra 162 28,981 5.5899
6 Chrysler Sebring 180 35,599 5.0563
7 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 174 35,508 4.9003
8 Mitsubishi Galant 468 97,418 4.8040
9 Jaguar XJR 4 845 4.7337
10 Dodge Neon 590 127,902 4.6129
11 Chrysler Sebring Convertible 61 13,337 4.5737
12 Chrysler Concorde 61 13,690 4.4558
13 Chrysler 300M 61 13,719 4.4464
14 Suzuki Aerio 150 33,931 4.4207
15 Ford Mustang 598 143,823 4.1579
16 Nissan Sentra 293 71,734 4.0845
17 Oldsmobile Alero 333 86,229 3.8618
18 Mitsubishi Lancer 283 75,585 3.7441
19 Jaguar XK8 8 2,151 3.7192
20 Volvo S40 111 3,014 3.6496
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The theft frequency was 11 per 1,000 produced for the Dodge Stratus and 10 per 1,000 for the Dodge Intrepid, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a notice in the Federal Register Tuesday. Toyota Motor Corp.'s Corolla car led in total stolen with 786 and ranked 49th by rate.
The rate for all vehicles fell to 1.84 from 2.49 a year earlier, the Washington-based agency said. The frequency at which new models are stolen has been dropping for a decade as automakers use more antitheft devices and mark parts, and as law-enforcement and public awareness improves, NHTSA said.
Max Gates, a spokesman for DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group, said he wasn't sure why the automaker's cars topped the list. Auburn Hills-based Chrysler accounted for seven of the 15 vehicles with the highest theft rates.
Chrysler offers an immobilizer system on most of its Dodge and Chrysler vehicles that prevents the engine from being started without a key. The immobilizer is offered as part of an option package that includes power windows and doors.
"Some of our dealers are ordering 100% of their vehicles equipped with that," Gates said. The system was developed several years ago after discussions with police officers, he said.
The other cars and trucks among the five with the highest rates were Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s Montero SUV at 7, and the Mitsubishi Diamante car and Toyota Tundra pickup at 6 each.
Ford Motor Co.'s Taurus car was second in number of total thefts at 757, followed by the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan minivan at 725, the Stratus at 682 and General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet Cavalier car at 633.
