Chevy Camaro ZL1 Is 39 Times More Likely To Be Stolen Than The Average Automotive

The Chevy Camaro ZL1 may appear like the last word Hot Wheels automotive, but it surely’s also hot wheels for automotive thieves. It tops the newest Highway Loss Data Institute report of probably the most stolen cars in America, which says it’s 39 times more more likely to be stolen than the typical automotive. It’s nearly twice as more likely to be stolen because the second-place automotive, the Acura TLX with all-wheel drive. Other versions of the Camaro shouldn’t feel ignored, as they take third place on the list.

The Camaro is a notable exception in the highest 20, being the one sports automotive on a listing dominated by trucks and SUVs. Comparable top-end Ford Mustangs, Dodge Charger Hellcats, and even Corvettes don’t make the highest 20 in any respect. What’s it in regards to the Camaro basically, and the ZL1 particularly, that makes it so desirable to thieves? It is not just the 650-horsepower 6.2-liter LT4 V8, or because this automotive once sent a Jalopnik author to jail for speeding. HLDI believes it’s due to a security vulnerability that makes the Camaro easier to steal than other cars.

“Within the case of Camaro ZL1, it is vitally desirable to thieves, and, on top of it, there is a vulnerability that makes them relatively easy to steal,” Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI, told CBS News. “Attributable to the vulnerability, with the correct knowledge and right bits of technology, someone who can gain access to the inside considered one of these Camaros can steal it relatively easily.”

Keyless entry is a pleasant modern convenience, but it surely has also made cars easier to steal. Thieves can intercept key fob codes, clone them, and use them to get inside a automotive. Once there, they’ll plug into the OBD2 port, tap right into a headlight wire, and even use Bluetooth speakers to activate the ignition and steal the automotive.

Chevrolet is already offering owners of 2020 through 2024 Camaros a free software update to enhance security, more likely to patch the exploit that thieves are using. HLDI says a similar approach has led to a 46% reduction in Hyundai and Kia thefts after a dramatic increase. On this case, a software upgrade added an immobilizer function that these cars lacked when built.

In response to HLDI, thefts of 2016 and newer Camaros spiked in 2023 and continued to rise through 2024. Keyless entry was introduced in 2016, so Camaros likely became much easier to steal when thieves discovered methods to hack the system. The ZL1’s goodies make it a main goal, but the identical keyless entry system could also be used on all Camaros, which might explain why non-ZL1 models are also popular with thieves. It’s price noting that nine of HLDI’s top 20 stolen vehicles are GM products, mainly versions of the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Cadillac Escalade. Late-model Camaro owners should make an appointment with a dealer to get the free software update and hopefully make these cars harder to steal.