Cali Raised LED Catalytic Converter Shield
Cali Raised LED Catalytic Converter Shield
The 3rd gen Tacoma has a problem that has nothing to do with the trail. It sits high enough that a thief can slide underneath without a jack, and its converters are worth stealing. Carfax replacement data, reported by SlashGear in 2025, gave the Tacoma the second highest rate of catalytic converter replacements of any pickup on the market. Cali Raised put the cost of replacing a stolen converter at $1,000 to $3,000 or more, before you count the days without a truck.
This Tacoma catalytic converter shield covers both converters with laser-cut 12-gauge 304 stainless steel and locks them down with tamper-resistant security hardware. It bolts on to factory locations with no drilling or welding, and it works alongside nearly every skid plate on the market, so it slots into a build you already have.
Check Your Tacoma Before You Order
This Tacoma catalytic converter shield fits a specific configuration of the 2016-2023 truck. All three of these must be true:
- V6 engine. Four-cylinder trucks are not covered.
- Automatic transmission. It will not fit manual-transmission models.
- Access Cab, Double Cab Short Bed or Double Cab Long Bed.
Not sure which engine or transmission your truck has? Send us your VIN and we will confirm before it ships.
What a Tacoma Cat Shield Actually Does
We would rather be straight with you about this, because a lot of catalytic converter protection gets oversold, and a catalytic converter guard is only as good as the time it buys you. No shield makes a converter impossible to steal. Someone with enough time, the right tools and no fear of being seen can get through almost anything.
That is not how most thefts happen, though. Most are fast: under the truck, a battery-powered saw through the pipes, gone in a few minutes. A cat shield breaks that routine. Stainless plate takes far longer to cut than exhaust pipe, it makes a lot more noise doing it, and the security bolts stop anyone simply unbolting it. The thief now needs more time, more noise and different tools, and the Tacoma parked two spaces down suddenly looks like the easier job.
Slows Them Down
12-gauge stainless plate is a much slower cut than an exhaust pipe. Time under the truck is exactly what thieves avoid.
Makes Noise
Cutting plate is loud and slow. That gets attention in a car park, a driveway or a trailhead.
Can't Be Unbolted
Tamper-resistant security hardware means the shield cannot just be backed off with a standard socket.
Why 304 Stainless Rather Than Coated Steel
Plenty of catalytic converter shields on the market are made from mild steel with a powder coat or paint on top. That works until the coating chips, which on the underside of a truck it always does. Then the steel starts to rust, right next to the hottest part of your exhaust system.
Cali Raised build this one from 12-gauge 304 brushed stainless steel, laser cut and CNC bent. 304 stainless resists corrosion all the way through, not just on the surface, so there is no coating to chip and nothing underneath to rust. Cali Raised also describe it as considerably more cut-resistant than coated mild steel.
The Vent Holes Are There for a Reason
Catalytic converters run hot. The circular vent-hole pattern lets that heat escape rather than trapping it against the converters. Cali Raised say the pattern also keeps the guard rigid, quiet and light under the truck.
Do not paint it. The shield ships in bare brushed stainless only, and Cali Raised specifically say not to paint it, because the converters run hot enough to ruin a paint finish. The bare finish is the point: stainless does not need coating to resist corrosion.
Works With Your Skid Plates
If you already run skid plates, this is the question that matters before you add a Tacoma cat shield. Cali Raised say the shield is compatible with roughly 99% of skid plates on the market, including their own. It bolts to factory locations, so there is nothing to modify on your existing armour.
It also pairs well with the Cali Raised transfer case skid plate. That skid is built for trail protection, and Cali Raised are clear it is not a theft-prevention part. Running both gives you underbody armour and purpose-built cat protection. Note the transfer case skid is 4WD only.
What's in the Kit
- Driver-side catalytic converter shield
- Passenger-side catalytic converter shield
- Tamper-resistant security hardware
- Security tool for the hardware
- Two rubber bumpers
Look After the Security Tool
The security tool is the only easy way to take the shield off, which is the whole idea. A couple of practical tips:
- Do not keep it in the truck. A tool sitting in the glovebox defeats the purpose if someone gets into the cab.
- Know where it is before a service. Any exhaust or underbody work means the shield comes off. Take the tool with you, or tell your shop it is there.
Installation
Fitting a Tacoma catalytic converter shield is 100% bolt-on using factory locations, with no drilling and no welding. Cali Raised's guide walks through it step by step.
- Let the exhaust cool completely. You are working right next to the converters. Do it cold, ideally after the truck has sat overnight.
- Support the truck safely. A Tacoma has room to work underneath, but ramps or stands are still the safe way to do it.
- Fit the two rubber bumpers where the guide shows. Easy to forget, so set them out before you start.
- Snug everything before the final tighten. Get both sides located, then tighten the security hardware.
Catalytic Converter Shield Install Guide (PDF)
Specifications
| Fitment | 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, 3rd generation |
| Engine | V6 only |
| Transmission | Automatic only. Not compatible with manual |
| Cab and bed | Access Cab, Double Cab Short Bed, Double Cab Long Bed |
| Coverage | Both catalytic converters, driver and passenger side |
| Material | 12-gauge 304 brushed stainless steel |
| Manufacturing | Laser cut and CNC bent |
| Finish | Bare brushed stainless only. Do not paint |
| Hardware | Tamper-resistant security hardware and tool included |
| Installation | 100% bolt-on, factory locations, no drilling or welding |
| Skid plate compatibility | Roughly 99% of skid plates on the market, including Cali Raised |
| Part numbers | CR3876, CR3877 |
| Fabricated in | Fort Worth, Texas |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 304 stainless resists corrosion all the way through, with no coating to chip
- Covers both converters, driver and passenger side
- Security hardware stops it simply being unbolted
- Bolt-on and works with nearly every skid plate setup
Cons
- V6 automatic only, so four-cylinder and manual trucks are out
- Any exhaust work means removing it with the security tool first
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this Tacoma cat shield fit my truck?
It fits the 2016-2023 Tacoma with a V6 and an automatic transmission, in Access Cab, Double Cab Short Bed or Double Cab Long Bed form. It will not fit manual-transmission trucks or four-cylinder models. Send us your VIN if you are unsure.
Will a catalytic converter shield stop theft completely?
No shield can promise that. What it does is make a fast theft slow and loud. Cutting through 12-gauge stainless plate takes far longer than cutting exhaust pipe, and the security hardware stops it being unbolted. Most thieves move on to an easier truck.
Does it work with my skid plates?
Almost certainly. Cali Raised say it works with roughly 99% of skid plates on the market, including their own. If you run something unusual, tell us what it is and we will check.
Can I paint it to match my truck?
No. Cali Raised say do not paint it, because the converters run hot enough to ruin a paint finish. It ships in bare brushed 304 stainless only, which does not need a coating to resist corrosion.
What happens when my truck needs exhaust work?
The shield comes off with the security tool included in the kit. Keep the tool somewhere safe outside the truck, and take it with you or let your shop know before any exhaust or underbody service.
Complete Your Build
- Cali Raised Transfer Case Skid Plate for 2016-2023 4WD Tacoma underbody protection
- All Skid Plates including the complete Cali Raised Tacoma set
- Everything for the Toyota Tacoma including racks, lighting and recovery gear
V6 Automatic? You're Covered.
Send us your VIN and we will confirm the engine, transmission and cab before your shield ships.
844-200-3979
