QOTD: Have You Been The Victim Of Catalytic Converter Theft?

by Tim Healey

Published: August 22nd, 2025

qotd have you been the victim of catalytic converter theft

Yesterday we reported on busses being disabled by catalytic converter theft.

It's been a problem for some years now, given the value of the metal and how a practiced thief can swipe a converter quickly. Especially now that so many folks drive crossovers and SUVs that have more ground clearance -- and are easier for a thief to get under.

Here in Chicago, I hear anecdotal reports of converters disappearing from street-parked cars occasionally.

So, has it happened to you?

Sound off below.

[Image: Setta Sornnoi/Shutterstock.com]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#catalyticconvertertheft #QuestionOfTheDay #QOTD

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

5 of 59 comments

JMII on Aug 25, 2025

Several years back, before cat theft became a thing, I switched to high flow cats on my 350Z and just trashed the OEM ones. I honestly had no idea they were worth much. I self deleted the rear cats on my C7 when I installed a Borla X-pipe. Cat theft is not something I worry about.

1 Reply
- See 2 previous
- 28-Cars-Later on Aug 25, 2025
  
  Doesn't that leave quite an odor?
  
  Like
- JMII on Aug 25, 2025
  
  It was noticeable on the 350Z but not on the C7 as the rear cats are "secondary" and not monitored. Its technically still illegal to remove them, the X-pipe was rated for off road use only (IE: track driving) and Borla was forced to discontinued this part after the government got wise to the fact that nobody was swapping these pipes out at the track.
  
  Like
- 3-On-The-Tree on Aug 25, 2025
  
  Had a Billy Boat fusion cat back installed on my 09 C6. Still have the cats and it sure is a huge improvement over the stock exhaust.
  
  Like
ToolGuy™ on Sep 08, 2025

Slight intermittent rattle from my 2002 Silverado 5.3L at idle, more noticeable when in Drive and the rpms are slightly lower. When you raise the rpms it is obvious that it is not bottom end or top end engine noise. (The fuel trims are fine, computer is pretty happy.)
At the Hardee's drive-through window with the brick wall reflecting the sound it sounds like my truck is coming apart. Hmmm -- seems like it isn't going to heal itself. So I stop by Auto Zone and convince the youngster at the counter to come out and have a consult (the more experienced person declined, "I am not a mechanic." lol). We isolate the sound to behind the engine. No external parts seem loose. I wonder out loud if we are hearing the catalytic converter honeycombs coming apart and flapping in the exhaust breeze. Hypothesis formed -- thanks kid! (Had him check the catalog for new catalytic converter prices but only out of curiosity.) What do I owe you? No one likes money. Ok.
At home, in daylight, put the stethoscope on the cats while idling, nothing. Turn the truck off, grab a rubber mallet and tap (lightly! let's don't send them over the edge) on the cats. Yep, there it is. Driver side even though we heard it more on passenger side. Well shucks, cats are expensive, right? Or used to be. Or can be. (Let's see if we bought the wrong truck.)
Next stop rockauto dot com... no hang on there hoss, use your noggin, let's don't go ordering parts willy-nilly. Hook up the scanner. Upstream O2 sensors switching like they should. One downstream sensor switching like it shouldn't. Ok, now we know.
Rockauto dot com (again, still). The 'OE Design' 'E.P.A. Compliant' Walker brand that we like is around 340 bucks before shipping and taxes, but wait. One "Wholesaler Closeout" available for $210.79... stay calm lol.
Four new O2 sensors plus the converter assembly (includes both sides) plus gaskets and hardware takes us to $435 all in. Not installed yet, don't rush me. 😉

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Pianoboy57 I always regretted not getting a Rambler. I had it in my head that I couldn't drive a manual back then. I don't know why I didn't use my friend's '69 American on the school parking lot to learn how drive a manual. I also had two girls that I let get away but that's another story.
Joh168697807 It is kind of interesting the comments on EVs. My Polestar 3 is simply a good vehicle in the category that it is in. It is quieter, has better performance and ride, and handles just as well (maybe better) than my son's Audi Q5 ICE and has been far more reliable. With the my solar panels charging at home is great and saves money. With the upcoming V2G, I could charge the car during the day and use it to run the house at night saving even more money. As a sub 6 figure household income, I make frugal purchases that save money over the long haul. I usually keep cars for 10 years. Judge the vehicle, not the power plant! My other vehicle is a Volvo S60 T6 R-Design (ICE). I currently don't see an EV in that category that would be better that my current vehicle. Cars are not a political issue (ICE vs EV), just evaluate them as what will serve your wants and needs the best.
Andarris These were highly disposable cars - built to seem a good value in the showroom and on the test drive but better return it after the lease term and God help you if you buy an old one. The few reediming qualities were the excellent but non-fussy instrument cluster ( overlooking the cheap interior plastic of the centre pannel controls). In addition to good interior space it was one of the last sedans with a big enough rear door opening that was easy to step in and out of despite the plunging roofline. These were actually very visible on the roads here in Toronto in part helped by representation in fleets, but they virtually disappeared by 2012 despite the fact you could buy a used on under $3000, probanly because tbe cost of keeping one on the road just didn't make sense.
Bd2 This vehicle looks like Connie Peters
Lorenzo I live in California and in addition to registration fees, I pay about one dollar in state gas taxes alone. The electric vehicle registration must recover a similar amount for wear and tear on the roads. The Tesla Model S weighs about as much as a Mercedes S 580 that gets 20 mpg. At 12,000 miles per year at 20 MPG, that is 600 gallons equivalent, times $1.00 in gas taxes avoided, so $600 added to normal registration. Slight adjustments can be made for the weight of small EVs but that is the tax advantage of not buying heavily taxed fuel. There may be a desire to make low cost EVs more economical to own, but weight is weight and that translates into wear and tear on the roads anyway.If California is having a problem with that, it is because of a host of other factors that have nothing to do with road use taxes: in other words, politics.