Talk to any muscle car fan about the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and their eyes light up. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it’s unapologetically American. But it’s not just car lovers who can’t resist it — the ZL1 has also stolen the hearts of the country’s most skilled thieves.
According to a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2022–2024 Camaro ZL1 isn’t just popular… it’s the most stolen car in America. And not by a little — it’s 39 times more likely to vanish than your average ride.
If you own one, that means living with the uneasy feeling that someone, somewhere, might be eyeing your pride and joy right now. And here’s the kicker: it’s not bad security that’s to blame, but the fact that criminals have figured out how to turn its own convenience tech against it.
Why the ZL1 Is a Magnet for Thieves
Yes, there’s the jaw-dropping 650-hp supercharged V8 under the hood. Yes, the looks turn heads everywhere it goes. But what really seals the deal for thieves is the keyless entry and push-button start system. With a little tech wizardry — specifically OBD-II key cloning — they can program themselves a new key in minutes. No broken glass, no mess, just gone.
This isn’t a brand-new problem. Ever since the sixth-generation Camaro hit the streets in 2016, the weakness has been there. But in the past two years, it’s exploded. Between 2023 and 2024, sixth-gen Camaros were stolen at a rate of 18.3 per 1,000 insured cars each year. Older models? Just 1.3.
Chevy Fights Back
Chevrolet isn’t taking it lying down. In March 2025, they pushed out a free software update for 2020–2024 Camaros. The idea: make key cloning much harder and beef up both entry and ignition security. Whether that’ll be enough to outsmart thieves who are always sharpening their skills is another story.
Why It Hurts More Than the Average Car Theft
This isn’t just about numbers. The Camaro ZL1 is the kind of car you feel in your chest when it roars past. It’s a slice of American performance history, a rolling symbol of power and passion. That’s exactly what makes it so tempting — and why losing one feels like more than just losing a car.
As Matt Moore from the IIHS put it, muscle cars have always been on thieves’ wish lists, but the ZL1 is in a league of its own. It’s valuable, it’s desirable, and it’s worth a fortune in the used market — whether as a whole or in parts.
The Company It Keeps on the Blacklist
The Camaro ZL1 isn’t alone. The Acura TLX is up there too, along with some big, luxurious trucks and SUVs. On the flip side, cars like the Tesla Model 3, Toyota RAV4 Prime Hybrid, and many Subarus are far less likely to be stolen, thanks to advanced tracking and a resale market that’s a lot harder for thieves to crack.
