How to Prevent Honda Pilot Catalytic Converter Theft

Worried about catalytic converter theft for the Honda Pilot? Here’s what you need to know about Pilot cat theft—and how to prevent it.
Written by James Ellaby
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger
The Honda Pilot is increasingly a target for catalytic converter thieves—but there are ways you can make yourself less likely to be a victim, whether it’s etching the VIN onto your catalytic converter, or purchasing a catalytic converter anti-theft plate.
You might not have heard about the rise in thefts of catalytic converters over the last two years, but it’s become a real problem and you could fall victim to it unless you take the necessary precautions. But don’t worry, in this guide, we’ll look at how to prevent catalytic converter theft, how much
car repairs
will cost if it happens to you, and what type of
car insurance
you need to cover it.

Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Honda Pilot? 

Unfortunately, yes. The Honda Pilot doesn’t just have one catalytic converter—it’s got three of them. But they’re not all easy to access, thankfully.
The first is located in the engine bay near the intake manifold. This is the rear warm-up three-way catalytic converter (WU-TWC). There’s also a front warm-up three-way catalytic converter located in the engine bay.
The good news is that these are relatively difficult for thieves to access, and they certainly can’t get to it quickly. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the third catalytic converter, which is an under-floor three-way catalytic converter affixed to the exhaust pipe.
As the name suggests, it’s found underneath the floorboard, which makes it much easier for thieves to access. In fact, a skilled thief can remove it in as little as 30 seconds

Top Honda Pilot years that catalytic converter thieves target

As an SUV, all models of Honda Pilots are common targets because they have multiple catalytic converters and more ground clearance underneath than other vehicles. However, one thing that makes it less of a target than some other SUVs is that it doesn’t have a hybrid option - hybrid catalytic converters use a higher concentration of precious metals, they’re more valuable on the black market.
Luckily, the Pilot is less likely to have its catalytic converter stolen than those of the Accord or CR-V, which are amongst the top ten most targeted.
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Why are Honda Pilot catalytic converters stolen?

So why would anyone want your catalytic converter anyway? It’s not exactly the most exciting-sounding part of a car, so why not the hubcaps or the radio? It’s because of the job that it does and how it does that job.
Catalytic converters filter out harmful emissions from your SUV’s exhaust through a fine honeycomb of precious metals, such as rhodium, platinum, and palladium. Recently these materials have become much more expensive, making them much more attractive to thieves. As of January 2023, here’s what each of the metals in your catalytic converter are worth:
  • Platinum: $1,074 per ounce 
  • Palladium: $1,776 per ounce 
  • Rhodium: $13,250 per ounce  
That doesn’t mean each catalytic converter is worth nearly $16,000—there’s not that much of each of these metals in them. That said, because they can be easy to steal, thieves can build up a lucrative collection. Each one could be sold on the black market for around $1,650.

Honda catalytic converter replacement cost

Unfortunately, the cost of actually replacing a catalytic converter in your Honda Pilot is even more that what it sells for on the black market. According to RepairPal, the costs of the parts and labor would be between $2,096 and $2,137. You can get parts slightly cheaper via aftermarket sales, but the labor costs will still be high.

How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Honda Pilot

So, now that you know how much it could cost to replace your catalytic converter if it gets stolen, clearly the way forward is to try and prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some tips: 

Park in a secure area

Where you park your Pilot is of course an important safety factor. Try and make sure it’s well-lit and ideally has video surveillance, which may act as a deterrent for anyone looking to make a quick buck without risking being seen doing it. 

Buy a catalytic converter shield

Of course, a determined thief might not be put off by lights or cameras—and if they’re highly skilled, they can remove a converter quickly enough to make their escape. But you can make this harder for them with a catalytic converter anti-theft shield.
These shield are aluminum plates or cages that cover your catalytic converters. You can get the
Cat Shield™ from MILLERCAT
or
Cat Security™
or Amazon, but check which will fit your exact model to make sure it’ll fit properly.
Luckily, most of them are easy enough to install yourself. And not only will this shield act as an effective theft deterrent, but it could even get you a discount from your insurance company.
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Put your VIN on the catalytic converter

If a thief sees that your VIN is etched and tagged on the catalytic converter, they’ll know it’s much more difficult to sell on the black market. You can get this done by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which holds regular catalytic converter etching events, or you can take your vehicle to a muffler shop to be tagged.

Invest in comprehensive insurance

Ok, this last tip isn’t going to stop someone stealing your catalytic converter, but a comprehensive insurance policy will help you recover from it if it happens.
Comprehensive insurance
means you will be able to submit a claim for the theft—otherwise, all of the costs for a replacement will come out of your own pocket.

What to do if your Honda Pilot’s catalytic converter is stolen

So what if you become one of the victims of catalytic converter theft? Well, firstly, you need to contact the authorities. They’ll file a police report, which you’ll need when contacting your insurance company to file a claim for the theft—if you have comprehensive insurance, that is.
Your insurer will work with you to schedule repairs with a mechanic and pay for cost of the replacement parts. You’ll need to pay a deductible—but it should be much lower than the costs of the replacement.

Can you drive a Honda Pilot without a catalytic converter?

If one or all three of your catalytic converters have been stolen while you’re in a public car park and you need to get home, can you drive without them? Well, yes, you can, but you need to get it replaced as soon as possible.
Your Pilot is likely to be noisy and rougher to drive with the catalytic converter missing. Even worse, if you live in a state with emissions testing, your vehicle won’t pass inspection. That could cost you your registration, because every time you drive, you’ll be releasing harmful gases into the environment.
So if this happens to you, it’s ok to drive it home, but then you need to start working with your insurance company on getting a replacement sorted as soon as possible.
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