Some cars are just more prone to getting stolen than others. Namely, the Dodge Charger and Challenger are prone to get stolen. Not only are these cars popular, but the Challenger and Charger are fun to drive. If you are going to steal a car, it may as well be a fun ride like the Challenger.

What is Dodge’s new Security Mode feature?

MotorTrend notes the new Security Mode feature limits the car’s speed to three miles per hour if it is stolen. To disable the mode, you need to enter a four-digit code. Of course, this means you have to know the car was stolen to activate the mode.

These Dodge vehicles have V8 engines that start at 675 RPM. This means a whole 2.8 hp with 22 lb ft of torque will power your car on startup, which isn’t enough to get very far. Security Mode’s point is to keep vehicles from getting caught up in high-speed chases and causing accidents.

This new feature is limited to the cars with high-powered V8 engines, like the most recent Dodge Charger SRT, Challenger SRT, and the Challenger Scat Pack models. If you have a V6 or r/t version with the 5.7L Hemi V8, you guys don’t count.

If your car qualifies, you can go to the dealer and get a free software update.

Is this similar to valet mode?

Valet mode is an option offered on some cars that has a similar impact. Similarly, a valet tune has the same impact. It limits the boost or RPMs on the car if you valet or take your car in for service. Some cars, like the Subaru Impreza, have this feature.

It slows the car down in a similar fashion so the automobile cannot be taken out for an unauthorized joyride. Both of these options are helpful to keep your car safe where you left it. Many cars have this feature, including Tesla.

Security Mode is helpful to deter thieves from stealing cars, which Dodge really needs these days.

Why are Dodge Chargers and Challengers stolen so much?

There are a few reasons Dodge Chargers and Challengers are the subjects of theft. According to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), both of these cars are fun to drive, and you don’t even need the keys to steal the automobiles.

The Charger and Challenger have whole-vehicle theft rates that have more than five times the national average from 2016-2018. The HEMI and Hellcat engines make for a fun car to steal, apparently.

In one instance, thieves broke the window of a Charger and got inside without opening the door. The car is then pushed with another car, and thieves can use a computer to get it started and on the way. No key necessary.

“The models most likely to be stolen tend to be powerful, pricey, or pickups, but vehicle theft is also a crime of opportunity,” says HLDI Senior Vice President Matt Moore. Moore notes that better security across the board would likely deter thieves.

IIHS and HLDI looked at insurance claims for each year to see which cars topped the list. A whole-vehicle theft is just how it sounds: when the entire vehicle is stolen. This is different than parts being stolen off a vehicle or items being stolen from inside a vehicle.

The Dodge Charger HEMI and Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat topped the list. The Charger came in at 544 for the relative claim frequency, while the Challenger was at 529. The average is 100.

The Dodge Challenger came in at 358, Dodge Charger 4WD was 274, and the Dodge Charger at 266. The Durango 4WD was also at 271. Six out of 20 cars on the list belonged to Dodge, more than any other brand.