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Honda Element Owners: Your Vehicle Is Under Attack

If you thought your Honda Element was safe from catalytic converter theft, think again. Here is the story and what owners need to do about it.

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As a journalist, I try and find information that can help anyone who owns a car, truck, or SUV. Typically, I stick with writing about Toyota Prius and other hybrids. I also write about battery tech and the future of the automotive industry.

But what about the now and the problems that plague the industry at the moment? In this article, I will break character as Pete, The Hybrid Guy, and be Pete, the automotive professional who has an important message for Honda Element Owners.

The good news is that there is a solution. I will get to it at the end, but first, you need to know what is happening.

Your Honda Element Is Under Attack
I have written a plethora of articles about Toyota Prius and catalytic converter theft. The epidemic is robbing owners of hard-earned money and precious time. As a 14 time Prius owner myself, my heart goes out to those who have been victims. It seems every day I get a message from someone who follows me telling me they had their converter stolen.

2006 Honda Element Orange

To be perfectly honest with you, that hurts me because not only do I know the cost of that for you personally, but the price for all things considered. Driving without a catalytic converter pollutes the air we breathe even more. You then become subject to far more harmful exhaust gasses too.

It is not just about the air we breathe through. It is about how it affects society. If a thief steals your converter on your Element, you now have to pay for an unnecessary repair. You also have to take time out of your work schedule to drop off the vehicle. That costs you valuable work time and even more money out of your pocket.

Then there are costs for supply and demand. The more converters needed, the higher the price will be for them. In some states, where converter theft is high everywhere, you are required to have OE cats, and some of these converters are on backorder for weeks.

Honda Element Catalytic Converter Anti-theft shield by Cat Security™

Then there is the insurance part of it. The more converters that get stolen and the more claims come in will affect premiums. If your car is a hot target and the insurance companies know that, get ready to see an increase in your rates.

Now your car is sitting at a shop or dealer waiting for a part that could have a price increase, and you have to find other means of transportation. These things cost you money, so it is not just about your converter getting stolen anymore.

The thing is, catalytic converter theft is not stopping. If anything, it is increasing rapidly, with Rhodium's high price now at about $20,000 an ounce.

Thieves are well aware that as precious metals' price increases, they need to scrap more converters while prices are high to bring a bigger payday. The problem now is getting so bad that I wrote this article outside of my usual field of study. I did it specifically to tell Honda Element owners that their vehicles are hot targets and take action now.

What Can An Element Owner Do To Get Protected?
Some Honda Element owners have the luxury of a garage. The first thing I tell people is usually park where the thieves cannot see your vehicle. I also say park in well-lit areas, if there are cameras even better.

If these options are not available for you but you are worried because of where you live. You are in luck. I have some good friends over at a company who is looking out for you and your Element.

The Cat Security™ product line just released a new converter protection device that blocks out thieves from stealing your converter in less than 3 minutes.

Cat Security™ Honda Element Protection

I had the opportunity to look it over and compare it against other products on the market. This state of the art protection device for the Honda Element knocks the socks off any other protection device that I could find. Nothing I found was either vehicle-specific or had the level of protection that this device does. The way they have it built is insanely good.

The entire unit was thought through thoroughly, right down to each piece of hardware that comes with it. I examined it on and off of the vehicle for quite some time. My conclusion was that if a thief wanted this converter, they would have to spend a significant amount of time tearing this apart.

There are companies out there making other products, most of which are universal. I feel that vehicle-specific protection offers more than any universal could. Universal protection is a very basic deterrent at best, but if this is your only option, you should get something. Some protection is better than no protection at all.

Conclusion
Catalytic converter theft is no joke. Some people laugh at it, but when it happens to you, it is no laughing matter. I have seen this happen to good people—hard-working people who rely on the car like the Element to take them places.

Stolen converters contribute to more air pollution and cost us all in more ways than just our pocketbook. Do the right thing and get your Honda Element protected regardless of what route you take.

Thank you all; I hope you and your car stay safe out there. The world is crazy right now. If you are looking to get protected or want to know more about Cat Security™ anti-theft products, you can visit them here.

If you want to chat with me, please find me on Twitter or Facebook at the links in my bio. Have a great day.

Check out why Elon Musk is more than just a human in this story here.

Check out this wild new battery tech that Tesla has and why it will forever change the auto industry.

Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporters.

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Comments

Mike Arba (not verified)    July 15, 2021 - 6:42AM

Dang if only I would have seen this Honda Element warning a week earlier . This is No Joke the thieves are stealing them like crazy. The only consolation is there is no money in stealing the aftermarket replacement , a Universal Converter.

Mary (not verified)    September 20, 2021 - 10:52AM

In reply to by Mike Arba (not verified)

My granddaughter received her Honda Element for 16th birthday and two days later the catalytic converter was stolen. We have security cameras directed at driveway and nothing was captured on video. So thieves are cunning.

Samuel Brian Formo (not verified)    September 23, 2021 - 11:21PM

Yep, just happened to my CR-V and the amateurs who did it caused extensive damage and now my car has been deemed a total loss. I am so full of rage I am homocidal.

Tracy Jolly (not verified)    October 4, 2021 - 11:01AM

Catalytic converter stolen off my Element last Monday October 27 2021. While I was at work in my company garage. Sucks big time.

Jesse Fain (not verified)    November 4, 2021 - 2:35PM

Just happened to my 05 Element this morning. Cut the pipes. Waiting on insurance but will definitely add some deterrent device when it's replaced.

Lori (not verified)    November 13, 2021 - 10:04PM

Definitely need to purchase Cat Security, then find someone to install it for my 2004 Element. I was just at the dealership where I originally purchased it, and they had three elements in there all waiting for new converters. I’m wondering if they would install it for me or if I’m going to have to find a mechanic to do it?

Itrebla (not verified)    December 30, 2021 - 6:21PM

In reply to by Jordan (not verified)

Mine was stolen on Christmas Eve. They also cut the O2 sensors and the muffler. Just got my E back today. Paid over $2100 for them to replace/repair everything that was damaged in the process. To anyone who has not had this happen to them yet, spend the $300 for the cat shield. I wish I did.

Margaret (not verified)    January 15, 2022 - 2:34PM

I got my stilen on 12/30. I was so angry and felt so powerless. I was getting my element ready to work as a delivery. It was my source of income. I live in Bronx, NY. The same nught the stole the same part of other 6 cars parked on my block.

Roberta Teruya (not verified)    January 16, 2022 - 5:45PM

Mine was stolen off my 2004 Element! I wish they could catch them and they go to jail for a long time!

Roger Fry (not verified)    January 16, 2022 - 11:08PM

Stillwater, OK had 7 element cats stolen in two days. All cut exactly the same. No clues to who did it per police

Kat (not verified)    January 17, 2022 - 9:29AM

Mine was stolen just the other month in my driveway. Aerogenics also makes a good security box especially of you've already had to replace yours. The Cat security brand states it's only fitted to the original Honda part and may or may not fit replacement parts.

Jenna (not verified)    January 17, 2022 - 8:53PM

Mine was stolen from my 2010 on Halloween in my driveway. $500 co-pay and then an extra $150 for the protective cover; Insurance wouldn’t cover it. I was smoked! Filed a police report and they said it was an epidemic and that was about it.

Kenzi (not verified)    January 18, 2022 - 4:59AM

Your link to the security system you're trying to sell , I mean, help us out with is ERROR 404 ,NOT FOUND!!!!

Aalax (not verified)    January 18, 2022 - 11:34PM

After the second cat was stolen this past year, we went the straight pipe method, no more thefts and sounds more aggressive.

Maynard T. Gibbs (not verified)    January 19, 2022 - 9:56AM

Had mine stolen back in late November(in Louisville KY). The very next day on the local news they reported on busting up a huge CC theft ring that stretched across the country. One takeaway from it was the cops suggesting to spray paint your CC neon yellow. It is supposed to tell the scrap yard its been stolen.

Kelly (not verified)    January 20, 2022 - 5:52PM

I have had mine stolen twice in 3 mos, I even have them on camera. The KC police department wouldn't do anything except take a report over the phone. Every shop I spoke with about the Cat Protectors all said the same thing, waste of money they can cut right through it. I went a different route, I painted my Cat,put VIN on it and it is armed with 2 alarms. Anyone gets under my vehicle it will trigger the alarms and they are loud. Good luck out there.

BL (not verified)    January 21, 2022 - 8:35PM

They got me 2 times within a year. This time I left it off and just used a straight piece of pipe since I don't need a smog check until August 2022. The entire thing sucks,miss work that day,go to a muffler shop blah blah long ass day. Glad to see a few deterrents in the market now.

Nancy Homick (not verified)    January 22, 2022 - 6:18PM

If they want to steal it then they will steal it regardless. It s ridiculous. How about going after the scrap dealers that are giving these losers money for them...

zh (not verified)    January 26, 2022 - 6:21PM

In reply to by Nancy Homick (not verified)

Got my 2007 Element cat stolen 01-25-2022 in San Jose CA. Still waiting for the claim to process with insurance. I think the 02 sensor was damaged, but the pipe cuts look fairly clean. They also seem to have moved at just the right speed to avoid triggering the motion sensor lights and camera monitoring the residential driveway.