Contrary to the wild reputation of the last few years, your Hyundai Elantra isn’t the most stolen vehicle in the United States. No, on a theft-per-100,000-vehicles basis, Ford’s flagship pickup truck takes the top spot. Despite the popularity of Hyundai and Kia models for car theft, people can’t stop stealing the most popular truck in America.
The Ford F-150 was the most stolen vehicle in America with over 1,800 thefts per 100K vehicles by the end of 2023
In 2021, car thefts involving immobilizer-free Hyundai and Kia models exploded. The so-called “Kia Challenge” went viral, wherein criminals demonstrated just how easily a thief could start and drive off in many of the brands’ vehicles. However, even with the trend, the Ford F-150 maintains its popularity among car thieves.
In terms of car thefts per 100,000 vehicles, the Ford F-150 takes the top spot. With 1,815 thefts per 100,000 units, the F-Series pickup is the most stolen vehicle in the country. In comparison, thieves stole around 1,296 Hyundai Elantra and 719 Kia Optima sedans per every 100,000 vehicles.
| Most stolen vehicles | Thefts per 100,000 vehicles |
|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 1,815 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 1,296 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 1,207 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 1,060 |
| Honda Civic | 921 |
| Kia Optima | 719 |
Source: Insurify
It’s an understandable figure. The Ford F-Series pickup truck is the best-selling vehicle in the United States. Not just last year or the year before, mind you. The F-Series has been the top-selling truck in the country for over 47 years.
Moreover, the Blue Oval’s full-size pickup family has outsold every other vehicle model in America for over 40 of those years. In short, they’re everywhere. Now, that doesn’t mean Hyundai and Kia models have dropped off the car theft radar.
In 2023, thieves stole 48,445 Hyundai Elantra and 42,813 Hyundai Sonata sedans. Shockingly, thieves made off with fewer than 21,000 Honda Civics in the same timeframe.
