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Stolen sensor

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35K views 55 replies 27 participants last post by  Lobo7  
#1 ·
Hey team—have a 2020 Cr-v and the sensor was stolen off the front of the car. It was most expensive to replace. However, it appears to be so simple to steal and seems very common! 1) does anyone else note this? 2) it’s so easy to get to! Is there a way to protect the sensor in some way? Honda said they had nothing to sell but maybe someone else has figured a hack. We park in the streets of nyc so we can’t put it in the garage. Any advice?
Thanks!
 
#4 · (Edited)
Seems like it would provide security to the Radar Sensor -- question I have is --- What if the Radar Sensor fails and needs to be taken off and replaced ? The posting on Ebay does not address this.

Update: I sent a message to Ebay seller and asked my question. I will post the reply when or if I hear from seller.

Finally received a reply from the seller:

New message from: polan123sport (133TURQUOISE_STAR Star)
Hello 531jack,

Due to use of the one-way security screws, the Theft Protection Unit is very difficult to dismount. If the Radar Sensor fails and needs to be replaced, we recommend having specialists at a car repair shop remove it for you. Alternatively (although we don't recommend), you can mount the apparatus with screws which are easier to remove.

 
#5 ·
The bracket screws to the existing radar mounting plate. Of course you need to drill two holes in the mounting plate. How hard it is to remove depends on the security screws that they provide. I would consider using something like torx security screws and give the mechanic the driver needed to remove the screw if the radar needs to be remove.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Just be careful of the seller on eBay as he is also listing them on Facebook Marketplace...and indicating they are in New York...yet his Facebook profile indicates he is in the Dominican Republic. And if this doesn't work out for you, I have an aunt who is a Nigerian Princess in Nebraska who has inherited a ton of money and looking for someone to help her "distribute" it! ;)
 
#11 ·
2017 CRV EX-L Turbo with Nav. The design was pre-Covid/ Supply chain/ chip shortage era issues. Honda probably never thought there would be a problem with the sensor being stolen. Now when we have to wait months for a part & it might take months longer, the easiest solution for some people who need one is to go where the sensors are; someone else's car. (I have been waiting months for the underbody splash shield/ insulation pad for my 2017 & there is still no ETA. We have been waiting at least 6 months for a replacement electronic key pad for a SentrySafe depository safe--chip shortage. We are going to wait it out rather than buy another safe. The $600 stuck in it is not going anywhere.)

The best bet is to hit the internet and see what might be available. Whatever is used has to be constructed so as to secure the sensor but not obscure its scan path.
 
#12 ·
Uh, $70 for that?? Maybe get some aluminum strapping/banding, spray paint it black, cover the sensor and torx screw (credit: Traylaw) it into the frame. As soon as they see that, they would likely move on to the next CRV. They don't have time to stand in front of your car and figure it out. Sorry about your theft.
 
#23 ·
We have a 2017 Honda CR-V and we also live in NYC and park on the street. We parked on the street for four years with no issues. Then within the span of a year, starting in August 2021, our sensor has been stolen 4 times. Honda has told us there’s nothing they can do, same for several repair shops we’ve been to, who all say they get 5-6 Hondas a week with this very issue. So, clearly it’s a massive problem. After the fourth theft this past August, then waiting three months for the sensor, which was on back order, we found a mechanic in NJ who installed a metal bracket around the sensor. It worked great. But then our car was hit while parked, and the sensor was damaged. Once Honda saw the bracket, they said they can’t guarantee it will function correctly with an external element in place. Now we’re waiting for another sensor replacement and have to figure out what to do—either install the bracket again, which is yet another cost, or maybe sell our car and get one that doesn’t have this issue. We’ve shelled out a few thousand dollars this past year dealing with it. And Honda seems to be aware of the problem but not willing to fix it. It’s so frustrating. Following this thread for any and all suggestions.
 
#25 ·
Now we’re waiting for another sensor replacement and have to figure out what to do—either install the bracket again, which is yet another cost, or maybe sell our car and get one that doesn’t have this issue. We’ve shelled out a few thousand dollars this past year dealing with it. And Honda seems to be aware of the problem but not willing to fix it. It’s so frustrating.
It's not just Honda's that are falling prey to this type of theft. So ditching Hondas for some other brand will not necessarily protect you from future theft. Any such component, in local black market demand, can and will be stolen.

FACT: radar sensors have to be in a front vehicle mounting location, not obstructed by any metal or chrome plastic pieces in order to work correctly. So far, the only mitigation this forum as seen is the metal cover bracket already shared, which would not deter a pro, but I doubt very much you are being plundered by a pro, more likely some teen or young adult looking for easy spending cash.

Clearly, someone is preying on your neighborhoods vehicles for high value easy to pick motor vehicle components. THAT is your core issue, so blaming Honda for this is kind of deflective in my view. In your case, having this happen 4 times in one year.. tells me there is a thief (could even be somebody in the neighborhood you know) farming your vehicle for parts to sell. If it was not the radar detector, it would probably be something else, like side mirrors, or the wheels, etc.

If it were me, I would have cameras set up to watch my vehicle and record the theft. The face you see on the camera might even be familiar.

In my case, I have after market security systems added to my vehicles, and if you even gently mechanically touch or manipulate the vehicle such as would be required to remove that radar sensor, the alarm system goes off. Would not stop a determined pro, but works great against clumsy amateurs.

Bottom line though: Thieves - If they want parts for easy cash, it is near impossible to prevent it if you park at night on public streets, or in garages with no security and open public access.
 
#29 ·
Bottom line here is I am sure Honda is aware of this issue and has fed it back to the design teams at Honda.

Why? A) because they saw a sudden surge in need for replacement parts in the last year or two, and so they need to adapt to the ever changing theft landscape. B) that is the Honda way, collecting feedback about field issues and feeding them forward to the design teams to work on better mitigation in new designs.

Take cat converters as a reference example of Honda engineering in action. Older Honda's had them placed under the vehicle in the main exhaust feed pipes. But with increasing problems of theft, Honda now places them up in the engine well under the hood, directly connected to the exhaust manifold of the engine. So far, we know of only one theft of this new approach reported in the forum, and it was clearly a patient thief who removed the bottom cover plate and then carefully used a thin saw blade to saw off the bolts so they could remove the CAT.

So.. with the constraint that radar cannot be obstructed by metal or reflective surfaces, I am sure Honda engineers will find a way to make the radar emitter/receiver plate a whole lot less attractive to spend time trying to steal.

I suspect that as Honda moves to electronically folding side mirrors, those may become the next favorite item to steal from newer Hondas. In other words... this will always be a game of "whack-a-mole" between Honda and pesky component thieves.
 
#37 ·
This may ruffle some feathers but I mean it in full respect to all those who have posted. I'm just asking the question...

It appears the only time I read or hear of these being stolen is from CRVs in New York City. And the guys selling these Protector Covers are in....New York City. I may not be the sharpest pencil in the desk but something seems a little odd here. If you GOOGLE stolen CRV sensor, you'll see posts on Reddit, CarTalk, and various Honda forums in which there is a single post (usually it is the only time the individual has posted anything on the forum) and typically indicates or shows in their profile they are in NYC. Could it be the guys selling these things are propagating the thefts or perpetuating the myth?

Maybe I'm wrong...anyone had a sensor stolen west of the Mississippi?
 
#39 ·
This my ruffle some feather but I mean it in full respect to all those who have posted. I'm just asking the question...

It appears the only time I read or hear of these being stolen is from CRVs in New York City. And the guys selling these Protector Covers are in....New York City. I may not be the sharpest pencil in the desk but something seems a little odd here. If you GOOGLE stolen CRV sensor, you'll see posts on Reddit, CarTalk, and various Honda forums in which there is a single post (usually it is the only time the individual has posted anything on the forum) and typically indicates or shows in their profile they are in NYC. Could it be the guys selling these things are propagating the thefts or perpetuating the myth?

Maybe I'm wrong...anyone had a sensor stolen west of the Mississippi?
I know of a few stolen here in Los Angeles, as well.
 
#38 ·
Hi all. The dumbness of Honda's design is confounding. How about screwing the plastic cover to the grill? I know it is plastic, but the sight of a few screws could work as a deterrent. See the pic. I don't have one of these CRVs, so couldn't try this myself.

 
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#43 · (Edited)
Have not heard of many CRV sensors being stolen in Ontario. I guess they can take more time on a quiet street or underground lot than on a busier street. They take the complete car up here. In most cases at night from the street or a driveway. It has gotten so bad that my insurance company offered a free tracker system worth $400.00 to CRV owners, certain pickup owners and Jeep Wrangler owners. Not going with the tracker would result in increase to theft insurance rate. Several of these passive devices are hidden in the car and the drivers and passenger side glass are etched to indicate the system is installed. If vehicle is stolen, a phone call will result in activation and the company will work with police to locate the vehicle.
 
#51 ·
I'm tempted to glue down everything (pop-out cover + sensor) with some sort of glue that'll make it almost impossible to remove anything in one piece. Hard glued down sensor vs. metal sensor cover with screws, really don't see the difference.

Would love to hear your input on the glued down sensor solution.
Thanks,
Rick
 
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