Catalytic Converter Theft

It's kind of like asking if walmart is going to do anything to address the fact that their employees can't make ends meet on starvation wages...

More to your point:

A manufacturer is in no way liable for selling something that eventually turns into something that thieves love to steal. Quite the opposite really: Toyota stealerships are making massive $$$$s by ripping people off with brand new OEM prices that most can't afford.

 

What’s in their best interest is to maximize profits.

 

until people are dying and or causing accidents result of this type of thief, Toyota will just sit back and swim in the dollar bills in their bank vaults that they continue to make.

Easy peasy, bump minimum wage to $15 an hour and reclassify it as “living wage” and then everybody can eat fruit from the same tree sitting blow the rainbows with unicorns flying.

 

Let’s put the blame on the California C.A.R.B.laws for mandating OEM replacement converters only. These stolen converters are not going to recyclers, there going to these pirate muffler shops. It’s the job of Law Enforcement to catch these SOB’s, not Toyota.

 

How much did it affect the makers of the trucks and SUVs that were being targeted before the Prius converters became the latest fad?

 

Upgrade your comprehensive insurance.

 

I feel this really needs a political solution than a security/business solution...

Toyota can come up with a protection device, but it will be at an added cost to Prius buyers. So the question will be how much most buyers want to pay. Or maybe it should be an option, but that will be similar to what it is now.

In addition, what about other brands and models? Add a protection device to every car? Will consumers accept the cost increase? Only market will tell.

I have two Prii, and am really annoyed by the thieves. They even tried to cut off my Odyssey's catalytic converter last year. But I just feel it is a much bigger social / economical / political issue than a simple catalytic converter problem.

 

Not a smirky question, what are some solutions you feel would alleviate this type of activity? Just some ideas if you have any, my inquirying mind wants to know.

 

The issue is the number of places available to buy a converter that has been removed. Everyone who has been on Facebook has seen an ad advertising that people are buying converters and DPF’s. It is too lucrative right now to come up with an easy end to it.

 

Dang right it is....
As soon as gas goes back over $2 a gallon, Toyota will sell every single hybrid that they make....AND they're going to sell OEM catalytic converters to the unfortunates that aren't able to replace the stolen cat with a $150 aftermarket unit.

Toyota is a global company, and the Prius is manufactured in Japan....where my finely honed Spidey senses inform me that catalytic converter theft is somewhat rarer, and they are often sold in nations where theft is dealt with a little more aggressively than in "progressive" nations....and "carb" is an outdated fuel metering device.

I do not see where they need to perform a "recall" because certain of their customers live in locations where crime and political corruption are rampant.
This would be like making them buy you new tires because you live where there are lots of roofing nails on the road from storms....or new paint or glass if you live in places where 'mostly peaceful demonstrators' are advocating for political change.

If you want to harden your car against this, drive it to an exhaust shop and have some bar-stock or rebar welded to your pipes.
This fix should be less than $100, and it should harden you against this type of theft.

 

To start, local authorities need to go seriously after the thieves AND the businesses that buy the stolen catalytic converters.

Cops Seize 2,000 Stolen Catalytic Converters and $300,000 Cash in California Garage Bust

 

...you guys are leaning the wrong way.
2014 California Proposition 47 - Wikipedia

 

This would be more for existing owners of old Prii than for buyers of new cars. The new units have considerably less street value.

... and even a thread on PriusChat.

These "businesses" are more typically the same sorts of illegal fencing operations that buy or make markets for all sorts of other stolen goods, than normal legal businesses.

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I just rechecked. That PriusChat thread offering to buy Gen2 Prius cats is still there. So are more recent posts elsewhere offering a higher price.

 

Sad, but true. There are consequences with people's selections, not necessarily individually, but definitely collectively.

 

priuschat is part of the problem, people here talk about how cats can be easily removed practically tutorials on here.

 

I'm pretty sure that the thieves aren't getting their advice through this humble site.

 

Look into $300 deductible?

One thing, if enough targeted owners have low-deductible comprehensive insurance, and make claims, the insurers will likely start lobbying the politicians, to get in gear and nail the perpetrators?