Two car manufacturers make six of the 10 most stolen vehicles, and TikTok is partly to blame
New Report: This Is the Most Stolen Car in the U.S.
Updated on Sep. 19, 2024
According to a recent National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) report, two automobile manufacturers—Hyundai and Kia—hold six of the top 10 spots on a list of the most stolen cars of 2023. Even worse, those two makes captured the top three spots. Car thieves are savvy, but that doesn’t account for these two car manufacturers making the majority of stolen vehicles.
“I had my Kia Sorento broken into in June this summer while at my friend’s house in a well-lit area, but they didn’t steal my car because I had the security upgrade,” says Tess Koppelman of Kansas City, Kan. While they weren’t able to drive away with her car, the criminals did so much damage she needed a new door. Adding insult to injury, the night she got her car back from the shop, it was broken into again.
Koppelman’s insurance agent has struggled to find insurance for her Kia, and a customer of Koppelman’s body shop has a Kia that was broken into three times in one summer. After two theft attempts in two months, Koppelman isn’t taking any more chances. “I don’t drive that car anywhere anymore unless it’s daylight and in the suburbs,” she says. “It’s been a bad year for Kia owners here in Kansas City.”
Well, it’s been a lousy year for Kia owners everywhere, as the make has a whopping four models on the NICB’s list of the most stolen cars of 2023. In contrast, Hyundai has only two cars on that list, though it has nabbed the not-so-great honor of holding the top two spots. NICB supplied Reader’s Digest data for the first two quarters of 2024, and Hyundai still has two makes—the Sonata and the Elantra—in the top two spots. So far this year, Kia has only two cars on the list.
“Besides large-scale trends like the security vulnerabilities of Kias and Hyundais made popular through online trends, as well as the general popularity of full-size pickups, we don’t have detailed answers as to why each of these vehicles are popular targets,” says Nicholas Zeitlinger, a public affairs specialist with the NICB.
Curious where your car ranks? Read on to learn the top 10 most stolen cars in the United States.
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What is the most stolen car in the U.S.?
The most stolen car in the U.S. is the Hyundai Elantra. In 2023, the Elantra was stolen 48,445 times. In the first two quarters of 2024, thieves nabbed 17,363 Elantras, which may mean this trend is slowing—or thefts may surge in the latter half of the year.
Maya Afilalo, managing editor and industry analyst at AutoInsurance.com, explains that the most stolen cars fall into three buckets: Kias and Hyundais, Honda Civics and Accords, and pickup trucks. Afilalo explains that social media plays a huge part in why Kia and Hyundai top the list of most stolen cars: A TikTok “challenge” demonstrating how to steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles went viral in 2022.
“Normally, to start a car without a key, you need to manually connect electrical wires—aka hot-wiring—which requires opening up the dash,” Afilalo explains. “However, individuals discovered that Kias and Hyundais could be stolen more simply by removing the ignition module cover and lock, and sticking a USB into the key slot to start the car.”
Zeitlinger also cited the #KiaBoyz trend as the most likely cause of sedans taking the top spots on NICB’s vehicle-theft list. “Before the trend started, these models did not appear on our top 10 most stolen vehicles lists,” he says.
What are the other most stolen cars in the U.S.?
Hyundai Sonata
Number stolen: 42,813
The Hyundai Sonata isn’t far behind the Elantra in theft, largely because of the #KiaBoyz trend. “These vehicles are so attractive to thieves because they don’t require special skills or tools to steal,” Afilalo says. NICB data for the first two quarters of 2024 shows Sonata thefts are at 14,524. Even if the number of thefts doubled in the last two quarters of the year, that would still be a significant drop.
Most older Kia and Hyundai models lack engine immobilizers, but that’s changing. In May 2024, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) published a report showing that Kia and Hyundai software updates have significantly reduced thefts.
Kia Optima
Number stolen: 30,204
The Kia Optima is the third most stolen vehicle for the same reasons as the first two. A huge factor is the lack of engine immobilizers, but the HLDI reports that while Kia models made between 2015 and 2019 are particularly vulnerable to car thieves, significant security advances made after 2023 help reduce theft.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Number stolen: 23,721
Thieves stole a staggering 49,903 full-size Chevy pickups in 2022, but in 2023, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 dropped from the No. 1 spot. It was the first time in a decade that a full-size pickup of any make didn’t take the top slot. “Pickup trucks had long been popular targets for theft due to their high resale value and high demand for their parts. Plus, some older models lack advanced anti-theft technologies, making them easier to steal compared to newer vehicles,” Afilalo explains.
Kia Soul
Number stolen: 21,001
Dozens of insurance companies filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai for manufacturing vehicles without engine immobilizers between 2015 and 2020. The city of Chicago also sued the automakers after its 2022 records showed that Kia and Hyundai account for 41% of all car thefts in the city. And it’s not just Chicago. Seattle reported a 620% increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts between 2021 and 2022. Cleveland and New York City reported similar percentages.
Honda Accord
Number stolen: 20,985
This make and model has topped the most-stolen-car list for years, in part because it’s also been consistently one of the most popular cars. “Honda Civics and Accords rank among the most stolen vehicles, largely because their popularity creates a high demand for stolen parts,” Afilalo says. “Additionally, as with pickup trucks, older models often lack advanced security features.”
Honda Civic
Number stolen: 19,858
The Honda Civic is close behind the Accord because it is another popular vehicle with a big market for parts, and older models also lack advanced security mechanisms. “At the end of the day, the easier it is to steal a car and the greater the ‘reward’ for doing so—in other words, the hotter the market for stolen parts—the more likely it is to get stolen,” Afilalo says.
Kia Forte
Number stolen: 16,209
The Kia Forte is among the models that had a security flaw in the engine immobilizer devices from 2011 to 2021. “Their vulnerability made them easier and more desirable targets for thieves,” says Afilalo.
Ford F-150
Number stolen: 15,852
Ford trucks are highly valued and popular, making them a constant target for thieves. So perhaps unsurprisingly, Ford’s F-series pickups have held a steady spot on NICB’s list of the most stolen cars. Considering their popularity, they’re unlikely to depart the list any time soon. However, they did drop considerably in rank due to the rise in Hyundai and Kia thefts.
Kia Sportage
Number stolen: 15,749
Tenth on the list is yet another Kia, the Sportage, for all the same reasons as the Optima, Soul and Forte.
How can you reduce the likelihood your car will be stolen?
Afilalo says one strategy to reduce the likelihood of car theft is to use a manual steering wheel lock. “The steering wheel lock prevents the wheel from turning until the owner removes it with a key,” she explains. “It’s a visible deterrent, which hopefully dissuades thieves from breaking a window and trying to get into your car in the first place. The locks are inexpensive and easy to self-install.”
Additionally, Hyundai and Kia have responded to increased thefts by offering software and hardware upgrades to enhance vehicle security, and Afilalo says upgrades may include immobilizer software, which prevents thieves from starting the car without a key, or enhanced security systems that address vulnerabilities in the ignition.
“Owners should contact their dealership to learn about these available updates and ensure their vehicle is equipped with the latest anti-theft technology,” she says. “If you don’t live near a dealership, a qualified mechanic can likely install an immobilizer or ‘kill switch’ for you, which makes it impossible to start the car without the proper key or electronic signal.”
NICB tips to help prevent vehicle theft
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
- Hide valuables out of sight, such as in the glove box or trunk, though there are things you should never keep in your glove compartment.
- Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
- Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running.
- If your vehicle is stolen, call law enforcement and your insurer immediately. According to the NICB, one-third of stolen vehicles that were ultimately recovered were found on the same day as the theft, so it’s important to act fast.
Additional tips from AAA
- Consider installing a tracking device in your car to locate it if it gets stolen. This could be as simple as tucking an Apple AirTag under the seat.
- When parked, store key fobs as far away from the vehicle as possible. To prevent tech-savvy thieves from intercepting your fob’s signal and boosting it remotely to unlock your nearby parked vehicle (a signal-boosting attack), consider putting your fob in a metal container or bag, which will interrupt the signal.
- Keep your vehicle up to date with software updates, and check with your dealer to ensure all eligible safety and security recalls and technical service bulletins have been performed.
About the experts
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. For this piece on the most stolen cars, Jaime Stathis tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who covers technology, scams and cybercrime for Reader’s Digest to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources, including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Nicholas Zeitlinger, public affairs specialist at the National Insurance Crime Bureau
- Maya Afilalo, managing editor and industry analyst at AutoInsurance.com
- Highway Loss Data Institute: “Reductions in Hyundai and Kia comprehensive losses associated with the anti-theft software upgrade”
- City of Chicago: “City of Chicago Files Suit Against Automakers Kia And Hyundai”
- City of Seattle: “Hyundai and Kia Lawsuit”
- City of Cleveland: “Hyundai and Kia Lawsuit”
- City of New York: “Hyundai and Kia Lawsuit”
