The Nissan Juke is not at high risk for catalytic converter theft given its cat's location and relatively low value, but that doesn’t mean a thief won’t try! To protect your Juke from this type of

car theft

, you can opt for secure parking when possible, mark your catalytic converter with your VIN, and invest in anti-theft technology.

Whether you’ve been the victim of catalytic converter theft before, or you’re the unfortunate victim right now, it makes sense that you’d be worried about your Juke’s cat. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you prevent catalytic converter theft in your Nissan Juke, from preventive measures you can take to the type of

car insurance

you’ll need to cover repairs.

MORE:

How to lower Nissan Juke insurance costs

Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Nissan Juke?

Fortunately, it’s not that easy to steal a catalytic converter from a Nissan Juke, nor is it necessarily worth it.

The

Nissan Juke’s ground clearance

sits between 6.5 and 7 inches. This doesn’t exactly provide a ton of space for a thief to slide under and perform the necessary measures to remove your Juke’s cat. That said, this is enough space to easily fit a car jack beneath your Juke, and there’s nothing on the underside of the car that would serve as a formidable obstacle.

But don’t let that discourage you. Sure, a thief could put in a little extra work to get to your Nissan Juke’s catalytic converter, but here’s the thing: It’s rarely worth it.

Nissan

joins a lineup of other brands like

Subaru

and

Hyundai

whose catalytic converters are less valuable than other, more likely targets, like the

Honda CR-V

Toyota Prius

Top Nissan Juke years that catalytic converter thieves target

The Nissan Juke was only available in the United States market for one generation from 2013 to 2017. Since the Juke is already an unlikely target for catalytic converter theft, any model year is equally as likely or unlikely to have its catalytic converter stolen.

MORE:

Cars most targeted by catalytic converter thieves

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Why are Nissan Juke catalytic converters stolen?

Nissan catalytic converters may not be as valuable as other brands, but they still contain many of the same precious metals that attract cat thieves in the first place. These metals include platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which hold the following values as of December 2022:

Platinum: $1,006 per ounce

Palladium: $1,682 per ounce

Rhodium: $12,250 per ounce

To put the value of these metals in perspective, these numbers were even higher in March of 2022 before the U.S. market dropped drastically with prices approaching $3,000 for palladium and $20,000 for rhodium. The scrap metals from a Nissan Juke Catalytic Converter could fetch anywhere from $300 to $1500 on the black market.

Nissan catalytic converter replacement cost

Despite the relatively low value of a Nissan catalytic converter for thieves, replacing one still costs a pretty penny. The cost to replace a Nissan Juke catalytic converter is between $3,579 and $3,658, according to RepairPal. You may be able to find a cheaper replacement if you opt for aftermarket parts, but you’re still dealing with an expensive piece of automotive equipment that requires some intensive labor to install.

MORE:

How to fix a catalytic converter without replacing it

How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Nissan Juke

Catalytic converter theft may be unlikely for the Nissan Juke, but it's still possible! Here are some steps you can take to protect your Juke’s cat.

Park in a secure area

Always choose garage parking over street parking for your Nissan Juke, especially a well-lit garage with video surveillance if you’re in public. You can also add motion sensor lights to your driveway or a camera system to your garage to dissuade thieves from even trying to mess with your Juke in the first place.

MORE:

How to tell if a parking garage is liable for a stolen or damaged vehicle

Buy a catalytic converter shield

The underside of the Nissan Juke is fully exposed to thieves who can fit under there. However, you can install an anti-theft device like a catalytic converter anti-theft shield to hide away your Juke’s converter.

These shields typically consist of an aluminum plate or cage that gets installed around your catalytic converter. Popular options include

Cat Shield™ from MILLERCAT

, and there are even more anti-theft options on sites like

Cat Security™

and even Amazon.

MORE:

The best anti-theft devices to keep your vehicle safe

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Put your VIN on the catalytic converter

Many car owners opt to etch their VIN into their catalytic converter, as this makes them easier to trace and harder for thieves to justify trying to steal. You can etch your VIN into your Juke’s cat at a regular etching event hosted by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), or by taking your Nissan into a muffler shop.

MORE:

How to check and decode a Nissan VIN

Invest in comprehensive insurance

Your insurance policy may not be able to prevent car theft, but adding

comprehensive insurance

to your policy will cover the replacement costs for a stolen cat, up to your policy limit! You can purchase comprehensive insurance on its own, or upgrade to a

full-coverage insurance

policy for even more protection from damages and accidents.

What to do if your Nissan Juke’s catalytic converter is stolen

The first thing you should do if your Nissan Juke’s catalytic converter has been stolen is call the authorities. Your local police force may be able to use security footage and other resources to track down your cat and catch the person who stole it.

Even if the police aren’t able to solve the theft, the police report will be imperative if you choose to

file a car insurance claim report

. You’ll be able to claim damages from your insurance company if you have comprehensive coverage on your policy, but they’ll need as many details as possible—details that a police report will be able to provide.

If cat theft is covered on your Nissan Juke, your insurance provider will schedule and pay for the repairs with you. You’ll likely have to pay up to your

comprehensive deductible

, but this will likely be cheaper than paying for the entire replacement yourself.

MORE:

How to know if your catalytic converter was stolen

Can you drive a Nissan Juke without a catalytic converter?

If your Nissan Juke has become the unfortunate victim of cat theft, it is technically still safe for you to drive—though you shouldn’t (and probably won’t want to) make a habit of it.

You’ll notice right away that your subcompact SUV is much louder without its catalytic converter; it also won’t accelerate well. Most importantly, however, your catalytic converter ensures that your Juke can pass emissions testing that might be required in your state. Without a catalytic converter to filter your exhaust, your Juke will be emitting harmful gasses into the Earth’s atmosphere.

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