2011 Toyota Prius Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

46Engine complaints

8.9%Of all 515 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES259 · 50.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM61 · 11.8%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING48 · 9.3%

ENGINE46 · 8.9%

AIR BAGS45 · 8.7%

Share of the 515 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Toyota Prius overview page.

What owners report

“THERE ARE 3 ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH THIS PRIUS. THE BRAKES ARE THE FIRST PROBLEM. AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, I TOO HAVE THE SAME…”NHTSA complaint 10760730 — filed 09/01/2015

“UPON START UP IN THE COLD THE ENGINE SHAKES VIOLENTLY FOR 15 SECONDS.”NHTSA complaint 10680247 — filed 01/31/2015

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10562720 — filed 02/03/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Toyota Prius have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Toyota Prius: 46 of 515 complaints on file (8.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Toyota Prius have in total?

515 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 36 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.