Tennessee’s vehicle theft pattern has historically leaned heavily toward pickup trucks, with full-size Ford and Chevrolet pickups occupying the top two positions in the NICB Hot Wheels state table.
The data comes from vehicle thefts reported to the National Crime Information Center and identifies the most frequently stolen model year for each nameplate in Tennessee. In the table, the Ford full-size pickup recorded 858 thefts, followed by the Chevrolet full-size pickup with 837.
Passenger cars also featured prominently, including the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, and Honda Civic. These figures are historical and should not be treated as a current theft-rate forecast for Tennessee.
1. Ford Full-Size Pickup
Ford’s full-size pickup was the most stolen vehicle category in Tennessee, with 858 reported thefts in the NICB state table. The 2006 model year was the most frequently stolen year within the category. That put Ford pickups with 21 thefts ahead of Chevrolet full-size pickups, making the top two positions considerably closer than the rest of the list.
The result fits a broader national pattern. Ford full-size pickups have repeatedly appeared near the top of NICB’s Hot Wheels reports, and the 2006 model year has been particularly prominent in historical theft statistics.
NICB’s national 2019 report, for example, identified the Ford full-size pickup as America’s most stolen vehicle, with 38,938 thefts, while 2006 was the most frequently stolen model year.
The Tennessee figure covers a vehicle category rather than one exact F-150 configuration. Ford sold the 2006 F-150 in numerous cab, bed, drivetrain, and engine combinations, so specifications can vary substantially.
A representative rear-wheel-drive F-150 used a 4.6-liter V8 producing 231 horsepower and 293 lb-ft of torque. Edmunds lists that configuration at 217.8 inches long and 78.9 inches wide.
Higher-output versions were also available. The 2006 F-150 could be equipped with a 5.4-liter V8 producing 300 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque, demonstrating why the generic NICB category should not be confused with a single specification.
For Tennessee owners, the historical theft figure highlights the importance of basic security measures and additional anti-theft technology, particularly when an older pickup is left unattended.
2. Chevrolet Full-Size Pickup
Chevrolet’s full-size pickup was a very close second in Tennessee, recording 837 reported thefts in the NICB table. The 2005 model year appeared most frequently among the stolen Chevrolet pickups. The difference from the Ford category was only 21 vehicles, giving Tennessee a remarkably concentrated top tier.
The Chevrolet entry is also a category rather than a single configuration. In this period, the full-size Chevrolet pickup family centered on the Silverado 1500, with multiple engines, cab styles, bed lengths, and drivetrains. Consequently, the 837 theft figure should not be interpreted as 837 identical trucks.
A representative 2005 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4WD equipped with the 5.3-liter V8 produced 295 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque. Edmunds lists that configuration at 225.9 inches long and 78.5 inches wide. It could tow up to 8,400 pounds in that configuration, illustrating the substantial utility these trucks offered.
Other 2005 Silverado configurations used different engines and dimensions. That variation matters when discussing the NICB data because the organization is identifying the vehicle category and model year most commonly reported stolen, not one specific engine or body configuration.
The Chevrolet’s second-place Tennessee position also reflects a national trend. NICB’s 2020 national Hot Wheels report recorded 40,968 Chevrolet full-size pickup thefts, placing it second nationally behind the Ford full-size pickup.
For Tennessee drivers, the historical data puts full-size pickups in a very different position from most passenger cars on the state list. The first two categories alone accounted for 1,695 reported thefts in the table, demonstrating how heavily pickup trucks shaped Tennessee’s historical theft profile.
3. Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima ranked third in Tennessee’s NICB Hot Wheels state table, with 632 reported thefts. The 2015 model year was the most frequently stolen Altima in the state. That placed it well behind the two full-size pickup categories at the top, but it still represented a substantial number of reported vehicle thefts.
The Altima’s position is particularly interesting because Nissan’s midsize sedan was one of the most frequently stolen passenger cars in the United States during the same period.
NICB’s national 2020 report recorded 14,668 Altima thefts, with the 2020 model year appearing most frequently nationally. Tennessee’s state-level data therefore differed from the national pattern, with 2015 being the most common model year in the state.
That difference shows why state tables are useful. A national ranking can identify broad theft patterns, but the vehicles and model years most frequently reported stolen can change considerably from one state to another.
The 2015 Altima was part of the fifth-generation model sold in the United States. Its standard engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 182 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. The sedan measured 191.5 inches long and 72 inches wide.
NICB’s figure represents reported thefts across all examples of the Altima, not a theft probability for an individual vehicle. The table also does not provide the total number of Altimas registered in Tennessee, so a theft rate per 1,000 vehicles cannot be calculated from these figures alone.
For owners of older Altimas, the historical number serves mainly as a reminder that popular passenger cars can appear prominently in theft statistics. NICB recommends basic precautions such as removing the keys, locking the vehicle, and using additional security measures when appropriate.
4. Honda Accord
The Honda Accord occupied fourth place in Tennessee, with 520 reported thefts in the NICB state table. The 2003 model year was the most frequently stolen Accord in the state’s data. That puts the Accord’s 112 thefts behind the Nissan Altima but still far ahead of the Honda Civic in fifth place.
The Tennessee result is notable because the Accord has been a recurring name on NICB’s national Hot Wheels reports. In the organization’s 2020 national data, the Accord ranked fourth with 30,814 reported thefts, while the 1997 model year was the most frequently stolen nationally. Again, Tennessee’s result was different, identifying 2003 instead.
The 2003 Accord represented the beginning of the seventh-generation U.S. model. A four-cylinder version used a 2.4-liter gasoline engine producing 160 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque. Cars.com lists that configuration at 190 inches long and 72 inches wide, with a 108-inch wheelbase.
The age of the most frequently stolen Tennessee Accord is also worth noting. A 2003 model was already an older vehicle when the theft data was collected.
This pattern appears elsewhere in NICB’s research, where older Hondas frequently account for a significant share of reported thefts. NICB’s national 2020 table, for example, identified 2000 as the most frequently stolen Civic model year and 1997 as the most frequently stolen Accord model year.
Still, the 520 Tennessee thefts should not be interpreted as evidence that every Accord is equally vulnerable. The table counts reported thefts and does not account for the number of Accords on the road, where they were parked, their security equipment, or individual owner behavior.
5. Honda Civic
The Honda Civic ranked fifth in Tennessee, with 425 reported thefts in the NICB Hot Wheels state table. The 2000 model year was the most frequently stolen Civic in the state. That makes the Civic another example where an older model year accounts for a substantial share of the reported thefts.
The Tennessee figure also lines up with a broader national pattern. NICB’s national 2020 Hot Wheels report recorded 34,144 stolen Civics, placing the model third nationally. The 2000 Civic was also the most frequently stolen model year nationwide that year.
That consistency between Tennessee and the national data is notable. While other nameplates can have different model years leading their state and national theft tables, the Civic’s 2000 model year stood out in both datasets.
The sixth-generation Civic was sold in the United States in several configurations, including sedan, coupe, and hatchback body styles. A representative 2000 Civic LX sedan used a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque.
Its relatively compact dimensions made it a common daily driver, while its large production volume meant there were many examples on American roads.
The 425 Tennessee thefts should not be interpreted as a percentage chance that a Civic will be stolen. NICB’s state table records the number of reported thefts but does not provide the number of Civics registered in Tennessee. Without that denominator, a per-vehicle theft rate cannot be calculated from the table.
The age of the most frequently stolen model year is also worth remembering. A 2000 Civic was more than two decades old relative to the present day, so this historical ranking should not be confused with a current Tennessee theft forecast.
NICB’s more recent national data shows that the mix of frequently stolen vehicles has changed, with Hyundai, Kia, Honda, and popular pickups featuring prominently in 2023 and 2025.
6. Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry occupied sixth place in Tennessee, with 374 reported thefts in the NICB table. Unlike several other vehicles near the top of the ranking, the 2018 model year was the most frequently stolen Camry in the state. That makes the Camry one of the newer model-year entries in Tennessee’s historical top 10.
The Camry has also appeared consistently in NICB’s national theft research. In 2020, NICB recorded 16,915 stolen Camrys nationwide, making it the fifth-most-stolen vehicle in the national table. The most frequently stolen model year nationally was 2019, only one year different from Tennessee’s 2018 result.
That close model-year relationship makes the Tennessee result particularly interesting. Rather than being dominated by an older generation, the state’s most frequently stolen Camry was from the then-current generation.
The 2018 Camry represented the beginning of the eighth-generation U.S. model. The standard four-cylinder version used a 2.5-liter engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Toyota also offered a 3.5-liter V6 producing 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. Because the NICB table does not specify engine or trim, the four-cylinder configuration is used here as a representative specification.
The Camry’s 374 reported thefts also need to be viewed in the context of how common the model is. A high raw theft count does not necessarily mean that an individual Camry faces a higher theft probability than another vehicle.
Registration numbers, geographic concentration, and vehicle security equipment would all be necessary to calculate that kind of rate.
The data is therefore best treated as a historical snapshot of Tennessee vehicle theft reports. It identifies which vehicles appeared most frequently in the state’s theft records, rather than predicting which cars Tennessee thieves will target next.
7. GMC Full-Size Pickup
GMC’s full-size pickup ranked seventh in Tennessee, with 286 reported thefts in the NICB state table. The 2004 model year was the most frequently stolen within the category.
Although its total was substantially below the 858 thefts recorded for Ford full-size pickups, GMC still occupied one of the top positions in a Tennessee list heavily influenced by pickup trucks.
The GMC entry is a vehicle category rather than one precise model or configuration. During this period, the GMC Sierra 1500 represented the brand’s primary full-size pickup, and buyers could choose from multiple engines, cab configurations, bed lengths, and drivetrains. Consequently, the NICB figure should not be interpreted as 286 identical trucks.
A representative 2004 Sierra 1500 used a 5.3-liter V8 producing 295 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. The truck was available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, while its dimensions varied according to cab and bed configuration. A typical extended-cab version measured roughly 227 inches long and 79.7 inches wide.
The historical model-year result is noteworthy because 2004 was also prominent in NICB’s national theft data for Chevrolet full-size pickups. In its 2021 national Hot Wheels report, NICB identified 2004 as the most frequently stolen model year for Chevrolet full-size pickups, while the 2005 model year led the GMC category nationally.
That does not mean the same theft pattern remains in place today. Vehicle security technology and criminal methods have changed considerably since the data was collected. The Tennessee table is best understood as a historical record of reported thefts rather than a current probability estimate.
It also shows how strongly trucks are featured in Tennessee’s historical theft landscape. Three pickup categories appear among the state’s first seven positions, making trucks a defining part of the state’s theft profile during the period represented by the NICB table.
8. Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu stands apart from Tennessee’s pickup-heavy rankings by appearing as a relatively modern midsize sedan. NICB recorded 285 reported Malibu thefts, placing it eighth in the state table. The 2020 model year was the most frequently stolen Malibu in Tennessee.
That model-year result is one of the more striking details in the list. Several vehicles near the top were represented by much older model years, including the 2000 Honda Civic, 2003 Honda Accord, and 1998 Dodge full-size pickup. The Malibu’s 2020 designation therefore represents a substantially newer vehicle in the historical table.
The 2020 Malibu was available with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. Chevrolet also offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder on higher trims, producing 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque with a nine-speed automatic.
The standard 1.5-liter configuration measured approximately 194.4 inches long and 73.0 inches wide, giving the Malibu the proportions expected from a midsize family sedan. Its conventional front-wheel-drive layout also made it a straightforward daily-use vehicle.
The Malibu’s 285 reported thefts should not be interpreted as evidence that the 2020 model has a particular theft probability. NICB’s table provides the number of reported thefts but does not provide the number of Malibus registered in Tennessee. Without that denominator, a theft rate cannot be calculated.
The state result also needs to be separated from newer national theft patterns. NICB’s later national reports show changing vehicle-theft trends, with full-size pickups, Honda models, and several Hyundai and Kia vehicles appearing prominently in different years.
For Tennessee, however, the historical table makes the Malibu notable because it was the first vehicle in the top 10 with a 2020 model year listed as the most frequently stolen.
9. Dodge Full-Size Pickup
The Dodge full-size pickup ranked ninth in Tennessee’s NICB state table, with 273 reported thefts. The 1998 model year was the most frequently stolen within the category. That makes this entry particularly interesting because it represents one of the oldest and most frequently stolen model years anywhere in Tennessee’s top 10.
The Dodge entry covers a pickup category rather than one exact truck configuration. During the late 1990s, Dodge’s full-size pickup lineup centered on the Ram, with different cab styles, bed lengths, engines, and drivetrains available. Consequently, the 273 thefts cannot be assigned to one specific engine or body style from the NICB table.
The 1998 Ram 1500 was offered with several powertrains. One representative configuration used a 5.2-liter V8 producing 220 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. The truck’s dimensions varied with cab and bed configuration, so there is no single length that applies to every 1998 full-size Dodge pickup.
The national context is also useful. Dodge full-size pickups appeared in NICB’s 2020 national top 10, with 11,991 reported thefts and the 2001 model year identified as the most frequently stolen. Tennessee’s state data therefore differed from the national model-year pattern, identifying 1998 instead.
That distinction is one reason state-level theft tables are valuable. A model can show a strong national theft pattern, while the model year most frequently reported stolen changes from one state to another.
The Tennessee figure is historical and should not be treated as a current theft probability. It represents reports submitted to the National Crime Information Center during the period covered by the NICB table. Changes in vehicle security, vehicle populations, and theft methods can alter the pattern substantially over time.
10. Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala completed Tennessee’s top 10 with 272 reported thefts. NICB lists 2008 and 2006 as the most frequently stolen model years, making the Impala the only entry in this Tennessee table with two model years tied for the highest reported theft count.
The Impala’s presence adds another conventional passenger car to a list otherwise dominated by pickups and familiar Japanese sedans. Its 272 thefts were only one fewer than the Dodge full-size pickup in ninth place, showing just how closely the final two positions were separated.
The 2008 Impala was available with several engines. A representative model used a 3.5-liter V6 producing 211 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Chevrolet also offered other V6 options, including a 3.9-liter engine in higher-performance configurations. Because NICB does not identify the engine or trim associated with individual theft reports, the specification here represents one U.S.-market configuration rather than every Impala included in the 272 total.
The model’s appearance in Tennessee also differs from the national picture. In NICB’s 2020 national Hot Wheels report, the Impala did not rank among the 10 most frequently stolen vehicles. That makes its Tennessee placement a useful reminder that theft patterns can vary considerably by state.
The two model years identified by NICB are also worth noting. Both vehicles were relatively old during the period covered by the table, highlighting a pattern in Tennessee’s data where several frequently stolen models were older and widely available rather than limited to newer vehicles.
As with the other entries, 272 reported thefts should not be interpreted as an individual owner’s probability of experiencing theft. The NICB table does not provide the total number of Impalas registered in Tennessee, so it cannot establish a theft rate per vehicle.
