While Dodge Challengers have their catalytic converters in a fairly traditional location on the underside of the rear vehicle, they're hard for a thief to access thanks to the car’s low ground clearance. Thieves would need to jack the car up a bit to get at the single or dual cat-back system, but this doesn’t mean some won’t try.
With the last few years seeing such a significant upsurge in catalytic converter thefts all over the world, it makes sense for car owners to be worried. We’ll talk about how much your Dodge Challenger might be at risk of having its cat stolen, how to prevent this type of car theft
, what to do if it happens, and how good car insurance
can ease your cat-con theft worries Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Dodge Challenger?
Thanks to the Dodge Challenger’s low ground clearance
of 5.2 inches, an unmodified model is not at high risk of catalytic converter theft. If you raise your Dodge Challenger’s suspension or fit it with bigger wheels, then its catalytic converter will be more easily accessible to thieves. However, if your car is low enough to the ground, as many of these muscle cars are, a thief would have to use something to jack up your car before being able to steal the cat.
Unfortunately, this isn’t unheard of these days—many cars that are lower to the ground still end up being targets of catalytic converter theft. Vehicles like the Honda Accord
, Toyota Camry
, Chrysler 200
, and Toyota Prius
are some of the most likely to have their catalytic converters stolen. Top Dodge Challenger models that catalytic converter thieves target
While ground clearance will make a difference, the other thing that will encourage cat-con thieves to target your Dodge Challenger is how many catalytic converters it has.
Models that are equipped with a HEMI engine, like the 2022 Challenger R/T
or SRT Hellcat
, have a double cat-back exhaust system, meaning that they have two catalytic converters. A thief is more likely to go through the trouble of lifting your car to get at the cat if there’s double the loot under there. Why are Dodge Challenger catalytic converters stolen?
Thieves have learned that stealing catalytic converters can be a fairly easy way to make quick money since they can sell the precious metals contained inside for hundreds and even thousands of dollars off just one or two.
As of January 2023, here’s what each of these metals in your Challenger’s catalytic converter is worth:
Rhodium: $12,350 per ounce
Palladium: $1,799 per ounce
Platinum: $1,063 per ounce
Dodge Challenger catalytic converter replacement cost
You can expect to pay over $2,000 to replace just one catalytic converter on a Dodge Challenger. A part from an aftermarket producer may be more beneficial than an original factory part. The catalytic converter parts from the factory are usually more expensive and are also usually bigger targets for thieves.
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If you’re just recently learning about the dire catalytic converter theft situation, you’re probably wondering how you can prevent it from happening to you. Here are our top tips for protecting your Dodge Challenger’s catalytic converter.
Park in a secure area
If you can park in a garage, you’re much less likely to have to worry about catalytic converter theft. If a garage isn’t available or you don’t have access to one for work parking, try your best to park in a well-lit area like under a street lamp.
Parking somewhere that’s under video or security surveillance will also keep your car safer, especially since your Challenger likely needs to be lifted a bit for a thief to get underneath the car. It’s about making it harder for thieves to access the rear underside of your vehicle without being seen.
Buy a catalytic converter shield
You might consider an anti-theft device called a catalytic converter shield—especially if your Challenger is higher off the ground.
The Cat Shield™ from MILLERCAT
and devices from Cat Security™
fit plenty of different kinds of vehicles and are fairly easy to install yourself. Plus, you might get a coverage-specific discount for installing security devices on your vehicle. Put your VIN on the catalytic converter
One of the most common ways to protect your catalytic converter from theft is to etch your VIN onto it so that it’s easier to trace and harder for thieves to sell. This makes your cat-con much less of a target, so don’t hesitate to take your car to a mechanic to help you!
Invest in comprehensive insurance
A good comprehensive insurance
policy won’t stop a thief, but it is good for putting your mind at ease about the cost to replace a stolen catalytic converter. If you have comprehensive or full coverage, you’ll be able to claim a stolen catalytic converter and get it replaced.
What to do if your Dodge Challenger’s catalytic converter is stolen
The first thing you’re going to want to do when you realize that your car’s catalytic converter has been stolen is to take pictures of what’s left of the vehicle, particularly highlighting where the missing part should be. You’ll need this to file a police report, which will help when you file a car insurance claim
for the theft. Don’t expect the police report to make much of a difference other than allowing you to file a claim with your insurance. It’s rare that police find stolen catalytic converters and can trace them back to their owners, but if a cache is found and is etched with the VIN, your cat could be returned to you.
For those of us with regular luck, this is where comprehensive insurance comes in. If you have comprehensive coverage, you can contact your insurance company to make a theft claim. You’ll have to pay a comprehensive deductible
, but at least you won’t have to pay for the entire replacement out of pocket! Can you drive a Dodge Challenger without a catalytic converter?
Yes, but don’t do it for too long.
Driving without a catalytic converter is technically safe as a temporary solution, but you won’t be able to pass emissions testing if your state requires it. Driving without a catalytic converter could also cause engine problems in the long term, and it’ll increase road noise and harmful emissions.
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