Over the past few years, Toyota cars have not had a very good reputation because it is one of the most frequently stolen cars. Just because they are easy to steal does not mean that they are inherently easy to steal, or is it that the issue of their popularity and high number is the reason why they are easily stolen? The truth is that the combination of factors is dramatic, including the number on the road as well as the new high-tech ways to steal. So, let us go into what the statistics indicate and the actions you can take to secure your ride.
The Numbers Don’t Lie – Popularity Fuels Theft
Toyota, such as the Corolla and the Camry, have always made it to the top of most stolen cars in the U.S. The data provided by the insurance industry shows that the Corolla occupies 8th place in the rating of most stolen vehicles, and almost 90,000 car owners have fallen victim to thieves in ten years (sirixmonitoring.com, thezebra.com). Camry is, in its turn, registered quite often at the top of these rankings, being at No. 8 a few years ago and counting more than 17,000 thefts in 2021 (motortrend.com).
However, one should view the context. Most of these models are also among the most popular on road. Having sold more than 50 million Corollas on the global market, it comes as no surprise that they have very high theft rates, given the large number of owners (thezebra.com).
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Stealing Techniques Are Evolving
Of more alarming nature is the fact that some modern theft methods are ingenious. Among them, there is a so-called headlight hacking technique since the car should be able to unlock or start by simply disconnecting a headlight and accessing the car CAN bus (reddit.com). The technique does not apply only to Toyotas; it also applies to any other brands, albeit at a lower frequency, because the high volume Toyotas attract more targets.
Moreover, even in such countries as Australia, the police discovered that criminals use cheap OBD (on-board diagnostics) port hacking tools, which can cost as low as $50, and use them to reprogram keys remotely (youtube.com, heraldsun.com.au). More recent versions of Toyotas with push-button-start are particularly susceptible, since burglars do not have to possess the physical key to exploit the systems.
Rising Global Theft Rates
The U.S. is not the only place seeing Toyota thefts increase. According to Australian police, Toyota, Subaru, and Holden models have been targeted two to three times more frequently than in previous years. In Queensland alone, Toyota models like the Land Cruiser, HiLux, and Corolla were among the most stolen cars in 2023 (couriermail.com.au).
Meanwhile, U.S. car theft, in general, has been climbing—up 28% between 2019 and 2023 (autoinsurance.com)—with NICB reporting over a million thefts in 2023 and about 850,000 in 2024 (deepsentinel.com).
Popular Doesn’t Always Mean Vulnerable
It is pertinent to mention that the popular target need not necessarily imply that the vehicle is easy to steal. Famous models such as the Camry or Corolla are everywhere. A less common but easily stolen model may still see fewer thefts just because fewer are on the road.
For example, studies show that some trims of the Corolla actually have lower theft rates—likely due to better security features or owner behavior (sirixmonitoring.com).
Toyota Is Responding with Better Security
Toyota has recognized these trends and taken steps to improve security. Since 2021, they have rolled out enhanced security hardware in new models and are offering retrofitting options for older vehicles (thesun.co.uk). They’ve also been collaborating with law enforcement and insurance groups to combat the spread of illicit theft methods and aftermarket hacking tools.
On a technical note, earlier vulnerabilities in Toyota immobilizer systems—specifically DST80 encryption—were patched, as researchers’ uncovered key cloning hacks in older models (wired.com).
How You Can Protect Your Toyota
Regardless of your model, there are proactive steps you can take:
- Install OBD port locks and use steering wheel locks to prevent easy port access (heraldsun.com.au).
- Park in secure or well-lit areas to reduce the chance of tampering.
- Add an aftermarket immobilizer or Viper DS4 alarm system that blocks CAN-bus hacking (thesun.co.uk).
- Be diligent in checking your body panels and headlights, as these are some of the common points of entry.
- Stay informed on recalls or securityupgrades from Toyota, especially for older models.
Final Takeaway
So, are Toyota cars easy to steal? Data shows they are frequent targets, but not necessarily because they’re the easiest to hack. Their popularity plays a huge role. However, evolving tactics—such as OBD port hacks, headlight CAN toggles, and cloned keys—do make them vulnerable if left with standard security measures. The key takeaway: popularity combined with older tech can put Toyotas at higher risk, but smart owners can reduce that risk significantly.
Installing simple security and having a sense of hacks in existence, as well as in-factory or aftermarket protection, can get far. As cars progressively become more electronic and network-connected, it is impossible to keep ahead of their thieves more than ever before.
Through awareness, action, and wittier upgrades, Toyota owners can reduce the appeal of their vehicles to thieves in a great way, despite banners keeping them in the news.
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