2011 Toyota Prius: engine knocking or ticking

7 of the 522 complaints about the 2011 Toyota Prius describe engine knocking or ticking.

owner complaints: 7
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 12,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 55 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine knocking or ticking by model year

2014
3
2013
4
2012
3
2011
7
2010
9
2009
3
2008
1
2007
3
2005
2
2004
1

What owners say

Filed Feb 15, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 1 miles · CA

Went in to have the spark plugs and 2 coils(cylinders 1 & 2) started shaking, knocking and smoking at the time I picked it up. Check engine light is on and hasn't gone off. The mechanic I take the vehicle to says it is a problem with this model car, trying to determine this, since he stated it is now my head gasket that needs replacing.

Filed Oct 27, 2016 · Brakes, Engine · 80,000 miles · GA

Hard knocking when turning on engine until I compress and decompress my break. Has happened 3 times, only during the cold months

Filed Feb 12, 2016 · Engine · 215,000 miles · CA

Found out the violent engine shaking and the mystery loss of coolant without any noticeable leaks is due to a leaking head gasket that his common to many owners. Car now runs rough and mileage is affected. Many other owners reporting the same issue http://priuschat.com/threads/new-service-bulletin-for-engine-knocking-at-startup-t-sb-0012-10.102200/page-40

Filed Feb 3, 2014 · Engine · 43,800 miles · NC

On jan. 18th, 2014 I was leaving fl to return to nc, when I started up my prius and waited for the gas engine to start, it did not want to start. It sounded like a diesel engine, making a loud knocking noise and the whole car shook. I turned the car off and then restarted it a couple of times, but did not experience the issue again. I drove back to nc and did not experience the issue at all. The car was due for maintenance, so b-4 taking it in, I researched the issue online. I found numerous people that have experienced the same problem on the "priuschat.com" web site, there were also links to youtube vids that showed the same problem. I also found that there is a tsb out for this issue, but it only covers certain vins and the dealers usually require that they can duplicate the problem b-4 they will perform the tsb. The repair is to replace the intake manifold, but this does not appear to be resolving the problem. The problem appears to have started with the 2010 model with the 1.8l motor and has yet to be resolved.

Filed May 2, 2012 · Engine · 3,500 miles · NJ

Started car after prolonged period of cold soak (parked for one week outside in temperatures around the freezing mark). Engine exhibited a loud knock/rattle and had a delayed throttle response as I was pulling out onto the street. Had to shut engine down (with vehicle located in street, safety concern) to stop loud knock and re-start engine. Rattle/knock had disappeared. Toyota dealership when presented with issue and toyota issued tsb (t-sb 0012-10) on this very issue declined to perform necessary work since they were not able to "recreate" the issue. I explained that this only happened once and to replicate they would need to park it in the same conditions for a week. I cannot leave my car with them for this long and therefore this is an unreasonable request. Multiple owners have experienced this problem (as a quick search on youtube will confirm) yet toyota is denying to fix this.

Filed Mar 9, 2012 · Engine · 12,000 miles · NJ

Upon ice start up at times, there is a loud knocking noise emanating from engine compartment. Goes away after 10 seconds and car drives fine. Has occurred several times. Though there is a tsb issued, dealer would not fix unless issue is replicated despite showing them what my car did on video. Most noticeable after car was run for a very brief time hours before. Also notice the last few weeks, while driving vehicle, upon ice starting up, the engine is rough and the shift to ice is noticeable. Previously it was smooth. No codes have appeared and the car appears to run normal otherwise. I would like the dealer to fix the problem as described in 2 separate tsbs (engine mounts and intake manifold gasket).

Filed Oct 30, 2011 · Engine · 8,106 miles · NY

Upon starting vehicle, a very loud knocking noise, accompanied by shaking occurred. At this time no failure/warning lights appeared on dashboard. Moved car forward approximately 15 feet, and placed car in park, knocking/shaking did not abate. Turned car off. The next day, the car, upon starting had the same loud knocking/shaking. It was audible from several feet away from the car. On the second time, it was accompanied by a warning light to put the car in park. Vehicle was towed to the dealership.