Protect your Nissan Rogue from being stripped of its catalytic converter by parking in a well-lit area, buying a catalytic converter shield, and etching your VIN onto the cat.
Car thefts aren’t the only thing car owners need to worry about nowadays. There’s something more inconspicuous on the rise: catalytic converter theft. You never know when your car could be the next target, and that’s why it’s best to take preventative measures.
Don’t go anywhere because we’ve got you covered with this guide to preventing Nissan Rogue catalytic converter theft. Learn how easy it is to steal a Nissan Rogue catalytic converter, why catalytic converters are stolen, what precautions you can take, and more.
Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Nissan Rogue?
For the most part, no. The Nissan Rogue comes with two catalytic converters—one in the front under the hood and a second one in the rear.
The good news is that the Rogue’s front catalytic converter is not easy to steal. It’s located under the hood behind a bolted heat shield. Not only would thieves have to unbolt the heat shield, but they would also have to remove the neighboring alternator to access the catalytic converter.
In other words, stealing the front catalytic converter is no easy task. It’s a different story for the rear catalytic converter, though.
Situated underneath the vehicle in the back of the car, the rear cat is easily visible. Without a heat shield to protect it, the rear catalytic converter could be easily cut out and stolen—unless you take some preventative measures, which we’ll go over shortly.
Top Nissan Rogue years that catalytic converter thieves target
There’s no particular Nissan Rogue model year that thieves target for the catalytic converter. The Nissan Rogue’s setup is less accessible, whereas most vehicles’ cats are in convenient and visible locations.
Why are Nissan Rogue catalytic converters stolen?
Catalytic converters are prized for the materials they’re made with. Peek into one and you’ll find a honeycomb filter made out of ceramic as well as pricey metals such as platinum and platinum group metals like rhodium and palladium.
How pricey, you ask? As of December 2022, the metals found in a catalytic converter are worth:
Platinum: $1,023 per ounce
Rhodium: $12,400 per ounce
Palladium: $1,791 per ounce
While these metals are found in smaller amounts in a Rogue’s catalytic converter, they still sell for a decent price.
Nissan catalytic converter replacement cost
Being made from such expensive metals, a Nissan
catalytic converter replacement is nothing short of expensive. It will cost around $1,204 to $1,305 to get a new catalytic converter—and that doesn’t even include labor costs. If you’re thrifty, your first instinct may be to find an aftermarket replacement. Unfortunately, that’s typically not possible. Aftermarket catalytic converters don’t usually meet official standards and will do your Rogue more harm than good.
How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Nissan Rogue
The rise of car thefts and missing catalytic converters call for extra precautions. Here are three ways you can decrease the chances of having your Nissan Rogue’s catalytic converter stolen.
Park in a secure area
Parking in a well-lit area with surveillance cameras is a good preventative measure against thieves. You may not be there to keep an eye on your car while it’s in the parking lot, but the presence of cameras helps deter wrong-doers.
If you’re at home, making use of your garage, motion-activated lights, and surveillance cameras can help.
Buy a catalytic converter shield
The front catalytic converter of the Nissan Rogue may be well protected, but the smaller rear cat is left vulnerable. Do your due diligence by purchasing a catalytic converter shield, which is a metal container that locks over the catalytic converter. You may even receive a discount from your insurance provider for using this anti-theft device
. 
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Put your VIN on the catalytic converter
Mark what’s yours! Etching your VIN onto your catalytic converter can mean the difference between the thief profiting off stolen property or being stuck with a piece of metal they can’t sell.
There are multiple ways VIN etching can be done:
Buy a metal engraver and etch your catalytic converter yourself. While this DIY method can be tedious—considering you’ll have a 17-character identifier to etch—you’ll still be preventing theft with just $30 and a little bit of your time!
Use an auto shop VIN etching service. The next time you schedule regular car maintenance
, inquire about VIN etching for catalytic converters. Some auto shops provide VIN etching for free so make sure to call different auto shops to find the best price. Attend a National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) VIN etching event. The NICB regularly holds events to prevent catalytic converter thefts. Check out the Regional Events page
to see if an event is coming to your area.
That way, your catalytic converter can be traced back to you, saving you thousands of dollars.
Invest in comprehensive insurance
If you like having a safety net, comprehensive insurance
is exactly that. It may not bring back your original catalytic converter nor point you to the thief, but it will protect you from unpredictable car expenses like cat theft. If you only carry liability insurance
, however, it will not cover theft claims. What to do if your Nissan Rogue’s catalytic converter is stolen
You’ve just had your Nissan Rogue’s catalytic converter stolen—now what? Follow these steps.
First, you’ll want to contact the authorities. Reporting the theft of your catalytic converter will serve as evidence of the event, as well as lead to identifying the perpetrator. If your vehicle was in a public space at the time of the theft, police may piece together information from security camera footage.
Having a police report will also help during the next step.
Contact your insurance company. If your insurance includes comprehensive coverage, you should be able to file a claim. As you’ve learned, catalytic converters are far from cheap; insurance should help ease the burden. Just make sure to go over our checklist for filing a claim report
to make the claim approval process faster! Before a new catalytic converter is installed, you’ll have to pay a deductible. When you’ve paid, your insurance will kick in and pay the remainder of the replacement bill.
What if you don’t have comprehensive coverage? Let’s start with the bad news first. Since your policy lacks coverage for car theft, you will not be able to file a claim with your provider. The silver lining? You probably realize that comprehensive coverage is invaluable now, so give your agent a call and upgrade your coverage to futureproof your vehicle.
Can you drive a Nissan Rogue without a catalytic converter?
It’s possible to drive a Nissan Rogue without a catalytic converter, but it certainly isn’t an environmentally-friendly action. First, your Nissan Rogue won’t pass emissions testing with a missing catalytic converter. Harmful gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides can’t be converted into their less harmful forms and are freely released into the air.
The best course of action? Get your catalytic converter replaced ASAP!
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