A Camaro ZL1 is now 39 times more likely to be stolen than the average car
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One bizarre byproduct of social media is that various vehicle makes and models become so “trendy” to steal, they can be a complete headache to secure. Buyers avoid them. Owners trade them in. All because of an app. And it unfortunately looks like the Chevrolet Camaro is having a moment in the spotlight.
Models by Dodge/Ram, Kia, and Hyundai have all had their turns. Often, thieves find some vulnerability and make videos about easy ways to steal them. Then there’s an avalanche of content showing hooligans stealing them and pulling dangerous stunts on the street before ditching them. By the time automakers can react, the vehicles may already suffer stigma that will last years.
Often these trends begin in one geographic area. It looks like Camaro thefts spiked in California first — Los Angeles, to be specific. During the first two months of 2023, thieves in L.A. nabbed seven Camaros. During the same two months in 2024, that number rocketed to 90. The trend spread to Texas, Tennessee, and then the rest of the country. With the latest list of most-stolen vehicles, the HLDI reports the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is 39 times more likely to be nabbed than the average car.
Why are Chevrolet Camaros stolen so often?
Chevy introduced an engine start/stop button in its 2016 Camaro. Add the latest keyless entry on top trim models, and 2022-2024 Chevrolet Camaros are especially vulnerable to theft.
Thieves can use a “relay attack,” where they use a special device to extend a key fob’s signal to unlock and start a car. They can also plug into a car’s OBD port and clone its key onto a new fob — with special devices bought online.
According to KBB, all the data needed to make a key is available in the Camaro’s onboard computer. “Thieves are able to clone the key code for newer Camaros by accessing the onboard ports that technicians use to retrieve diagnostic codes and monitor data about fuel economy, emissions, and other aspects of performance.” Other modern vehicles are more secure than this.
There’s a light at the end of this Chevy Camaro theft tunnel. Hyundai and Kia responded decisively to the uptick in thefts, pushing out a software update that fixed the problem. According to the HLDI, “Whole-vehicle theft claims were 52% less frequent for vehicles with the upgrade.”
General Motors has launched its own campaign to write more secure vehicle software and update Camaros. Let’s hope it’s as successful.
