Stolen :(

1700 Views 45 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Smitty73, 6 h ago

DadWagon13

Discussion Starter · 10 d ago

Well, literally I'm a few days away from getting an IGLA installed and my DD392 got jacked form the airport in DFW.

UConnect Guardian sent me an email at 4:40 am this morning that the theft alarm got triggered. I called police and they confirmed that the SUV left the airport at 4:50 AM. That's 5 min to get it started then the 5 min it takes to drive out.

Police do have a picture of the suspect that stole it (Plus side of it being in an airport).

So have MOPAR owners talked to a lawyer about this? This is ridiculous. I know I'm not the first one who has posted about this.

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Vice-White

· #21 · 8 d ago

Hyundai (I think) just lost a 200million dollar lawsuit for the same EASY to STEAL issue.
They were also ordered to update millions of cars software to provide better protection.

Dodge ---> fixed it in HC Challengers and Chargers and you can even get the better alarm system in a Hemi/V6 Challenger/Charger. If Dodge simply sent a intrusion detection module to be plugged in and a software update we would be golden. But nope ain't gonna happen without some class action suit like there was against Hyundai.

Fanboyz of Mopar will suck it up no matter what which is harmful for us normal owners.

In my mind, Fanboyz = apologists and protectionists

Reactions: 3

Hemi_RT

· #22 · 8 d ago

Let me chime in regarding vehicle theft in general as someone who has investigated it for too many years....

The good theft crews will rip out anything factory. So anyone depending on using factory tracking for vehicle recovery will most likely never see your vehicle again.

Secondary tracking in HIGHLY encouraged. Stay away from anything that plugs into the OBD, they'll rip that out too. You need to have something installed in an alternate location such as behind the dash or hidden elsewhere that takes time to find giving you time to track it. I like the Trackmate GPS or anything similar. I have seen some good systems actually tied in behind the tail lights as an example...gets a good signal out and you can get power and ignition.

Make sure it has a battery backup. If the unit does not have power, it won't ping.

I've seen them find wires tied into ignition kill switches at the dash. Better using fuel kill under the hood.

Poor mans Apple tags work ok. You have to disable the speaker or else they'll be able to hear it. I've seen crews scan vehicles for them as well, so a three pack works much better than a single.

Don't park at the airport.

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DadWagon13

Discussion Starter · #23 · 8 d ago

Hemi_RT said:
Let me chime in regarding vehicle theft in general as someone who has investigated it for too many years....

The good theft crews will rip out anything factory. So anyone depending on using factory tracking for vehicle recovery will most likely never see your vehicle again.

Secondary tracking in HIGHLY encouraged. Stay away from anything that plugs into the OBD, they'll rip that out too. You need to have something installed in an alternate location such as behind the dash or hidden elsewhere that takes time to find giving you time to track it. I like the Trackmate GPS or anything similar. I have seen some good systems actually tied in behind the tail lights as an example...gets a good signal out and you can get power and ignition.

Make sure it has a battery backup. If the unit does not have power, it won't ping.

I've seen them find wires tied into ignition kill switches at the dash. Better using fuel kill under the hood.

Poor mans Apple tags work ok. You have to disable the speaker or else they'll be able to hear it. I've seen crews scan vehicles for them as well, so a three pack works much better than a single.

Don't park at the airport.

The last 5 years I owned a Scat Pack Chrger and have always parked at the terminal covered parking. Never had any issues until the other day. But of course, the DD392 is a very hot item. Since I live kinda rural, it's hard to get any kind of car service out here and I regularly fly out of town for work. But after this, I'm getting a ride from now on. Just a minor inconvenience

Reactions: 1

Hamsquatch

· #24 · 8 d ago

I'm just jumping in here, so apologies if I'm not up to speed, missing something, or stating the obvious.

For our 2020 Scat Pack Chally WB, we got a letter from FCA offering a one-time free "security update" that locked the PCM. The way it was explained to me is - and I paraphrase, as I'm not an auto tech or IT dude - once they lock the PCM, the two keys we have, and ONLY those 2 keys, will start the car. The letter also stated that if a third/spare key was desired, it should be bought and programed then, when the update was performed, as after completion of the update, the PCM itself would need to be replaced to add a new key.

Now I'm probably getting some of the key terms or even concepts wrong here due, but anyhoo when I got the letter I was at my local dealer the next business day and had it done, and wanted to share in case this potential issue and fix has any bearing on the DD.

Hemi_RT

· #25 · 8 d ago

DadWagon13 said:
...the DD392 is a very hot item....Since I live kinda rural, it's hard to get any kind of car service out here

Exactly, they are a VERY hot item. Same reason why I tell people NOT to put their C8 Corvette up on Turo. The theft crews will pay someone, usually a female, to rent it and return it...but, they'll cut a key and airtag it while she has it. And soon thereafter gets stolen from the subsequent renter who is like, I locked it and have the key and has no clue. We usually figure it out when the dumb ones use the same female more than once and vehicles are magically stolen after she rents two different times.

Rural is tough, but airports have a high concentration for nice vehicles. Why take a risk trying to take it from your driveway and face an angry owner with a shotgun when I have my pick at the airport. If you absolutely have to park at the airport, make sure:

1) you cover your VIN on the dash with a piece of paper. They need the VIN to cut the key.
2) walk around your car with your wifi turned on to make sure no one slapped a tag on your car to grab it later on.

6104696

· #26 · 8 d ago (Edited)

powerfreak said:
There is a known security issue on the Durango that Stallantis hasn't fixed. Thieves literally can plug into the car and create their own key fob with hardware that's easily obtainable and drive off in under 5 mins without the alarm going off. Might sound funny to sue them, but the city of Rochester NY is sueing Kia for the exact same issue.

I am aware of the situations, and the lawsuits. My son owns a Kia. He too is aware of the situation. He bought a Club for $30.

The Hyundai/Kia story is different, it was a settlement. Curious who actually got what. The other lawsuits, if they are actually filed, will likely go nowhere (IMO, of course). And, if you are insured, what are you going g to do, hire a $400/hour lawyer to try to recover your deductible? Find a class action lawyer to try to certify a class so you can get 5 cents on the dollar for any perceived damages?

Litigation is nothing more than a business tool; it has to make business sense....and you need a sound legal argument. The business case for this is laughable, as is the legal argument.

Hamsquatch

· #27 · 7 d ago (Edited)

Gents, I tried searching on the Chally boards where I know we discussed this, but I'm not finding what I'm after, including the copy of the letter I got from Dodge I posted that prompted the action. I'll see if I can find the hard copy of the letter in our files. But anyhoo - and especially for the SRT and HC owners - please consider looking into or checking with your dealer if their service dept is saavy about possibly getting your PCMs locked in much the same way they were doing on Scats as a security fix - assuming it's at all possible on the DD like it was or is on the SPs.

ETA, when I had it done, I also recall the service tech telling me after it was completed, that if we ever lost a key or wanted to add a new one, beyond the routine cost of the actual key and its programming, it would also cost about $300 in parts to have a new PCM put back in, that would allow for the key changes, which in turn (the new PCM) would again need to be locked to reestablish the security fix.

Reactions: 1

CaptMoe

· #28 · 7 d ago

6104696 said:
The Hyundai/Kia story is different, it was a settlement. Curious who actually got what.

Litigation is nothing more than a business tool; it has to make business sense....and you need a sound legal argument. The business case for this is laughable, as is the legal argument.

I'm gonna go with the lawyers got most of the money...

Reactions: 1

CaptMoe

· #29 · 7 d ago

JC Hemi said:
Seems like Dodge/Chrysler and Khai are having a high number of thefts... I do not hear much about Ford or Chevys?

Some insurance companies are not insuring Khai's...

What in the world is a Khai?
And who keeps stealing it?

JC Hemi

· #30 · 7 d ago

Sorry misspelled KIA. You can google KIA challenge. Seems like they can be stollen by even a child… crazy stuff.

StuckOnDurango

· #31 · 7 d ago

Hamsquatch said:
Gents, I tried searching on the Chally boards where I know we discussed this, but I'm not finding what I'm after, including the copy of the letter I got from Dodge I posted that prompted the action. I'll see if I can find the hard copy of the letter in our files. But anyhoo - and especially for the SRT and HC owners - please consider looking into or checking with your dealer if their service dept is saavy about possibly getting your PCMs locked in much the same way they were doing on Scats as a security fix - assuming it's at all possible on the DD like it was or is on the SPs.

ETA, when I had it done, I also recall the service tech telling me after it was completed, that if we ever lost a key or wanted to add a new one, beyond the routine cost of the actual key and its programming, it would also cost about $300 in parts to have a new PCM put back in, that would allow for the key changes, which in turn (the new PCM) would again need to be locked to reestablish the security fix.

I think I've seen this discussed somewhere in another thread and unfortunately I think it was determined not available for our Durango's... I would gladly have it done if it ever becomes available for our vehicles.

DGatzby

· #32 · 6 d ago

StuckOnDurango said:
I think I've seen this discussed somewhere in another thread and unfortunately I think it was determined not available for our Durango's... I would gladly have it done if it ever becomes available for our vehicles.

They modified/locked the hub on my 2023 Durango. Ref. TSB-08-087-23.

Reactions: 1

StuckOnDurango

· #33 · 6 d ago

DGatzby said:
They modified/locked the hub on my 2023 Durango. Ref. TSB-08-087-23.

Nice.... do you mean "-22" and not "-23" as I could not find a TSB-087-23 referenced anywhere...

DGatzby

· #34 · 6 d ago

StuckOnDurango said:
Nice.... do you mean "-22" and not "-23" as I could not find a TSB-087-23 referenced anywhere...

TSB 08-087-23
Remember the preceding “08”. Try again.

Reactions: 1

Catified

· #35 · 3 d ago

DadWagon13 said:
The last 5 years I owned a Scat Pack Chrger and have always parked at the terminal covered parking. Never had any issues until the other day. But of course, the DD392 is a very hot item. Since I live kinda rural, it's hard to get any kind of car service out here and I regularly fly out of town for work. But after this, I'm getting a ride from now on. Just a minor inconvenience

Sorry to hear about your Durango, Hopefully you get it back in good condition.
Sounds like you might have gotten lucky parking your Scat at the Airport. Several Trx's and a Trackhawk have been stolen form that airport (and that's the one's we know about).

https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/my-trx-was-stolen-last-week-from-dfw-airport-another-trx-and-a-trackhawk-were-stolen-at-the-same-time-should-i-buy-another-trx.7798/

Smitty73

· #36 · 3 d ago

Friggin scumbag thieves. Wish it were legal in my state to take them out with a few well-placed projectiles!

Sucks that Stellantis engineered this thing to be so easily stolen. With all the electronics in modern vehicles, you'd think they could easily design something that no thief could ever crack. Hell, they build stuff today so that regular maintenance confounds guys who have been turning wrenches for 3 decades (Like myself - I just quit and closed shop after 14 years - tired of the BS!! There's easier ways to make a living than to swear all day long). I say sue the shit out of 'em! I hate lawsuits, but there is no love lost between myself and automakers. I'd sue without a second thought! Payback for all the techs and consumers they've royally screwed blind over decades.

On a similar line, I've noticed the past 10 years our '86 Grand Marquis getting a TON of attention every time we stop with it, especially at gas stations were it's easy to chat with people. With that in mind I figured it was high time to install a anti-theft device of my own invention. I used an unconventional way to cut power to the start circuit, so they can bust the steering column open and jump as many wires as their heart desires, and that thing will never crank. I'm proud of the idea and want to post to show it off, but since this is not a popular car, it really stands out of a crowd, so I'm gonna keep that one to myself.

Just an FYI, with some simple wiring and knowledge of how ignition systems work, you can give a thief a 25,000 volt handshake with your car. Just have to remember to disable it before you head to the store. And another FYI, with voltage that high, it will pass through fabric or leather, straight into the human body. SURPRISE!!

⚡⚡⚡

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6104696

· #37 · 2 d ago

Smitty73 said:
Just an FYI, with some simple wiring and knowledge of how ignition systems work, you can give a thief a 25,000 volt handshake with your car. Just have to remember to disable it before you head to the store. And another FYI, with voltage that high, it will pass through fabric or leather, straight into the human body. SURPRISE!! ⚡⚡⚡

Sounds like karma but booby traps are illegal in most states and can land you in criminal and civil court.

Reactions: 1

Vice-White

· #38 · 2 d ago

Smitty73 said:
And another FYI, with voltage that high, it will pass through fabric or leather, straight into the human body. SURPRISE!! ⚡⚡⚡

Yes and also into every piece of electronics in the vehicle will be fried!

Smitty73

· #39 · 2 d ago

Nope, not if you wire it correctly ... otherwise the first time your ignition fired everything would fry as well.

JC Hemi

· #40 · 2 d ago

I never knew a 12v system could put out so much voltage or amperage? I am interested in hearing how this is done?

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