I noticed my heat shield hanging loose today. Could it have been someone trying to steal my catalytic converter, or do these just fall off over time?
I’ve had two different Gen 3 Priuses, and the heat shield just fell off both of them. If you’re worried about theft, I’d definitely get a cat shield. You can find one for under $100 on eBay.
So does this heat shield just drop randomly, or should I be worried?
Fable said:
So does this heat shield just drop randomly, or should I be worried?
Happened on mine too. At first, the rattling freaked me out because I thought the engine was falling apart 
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@Rudy
Yeah, same here on my 2015.
@Rudy
This sounds exactly like what happened to mine.
Fable said:
So does this heat shield just drop randomly, or should I be worried?
Yep, same thing happened on my 2010.
This happened to our 2012. If you don’t park on grass, you can just take it off. If you need to reattach it, you’ll have to get the right clips.
laura said:
This happened to our 2012. If you don’t park on grass, you can just take it off. If you need to reattach it, you’ll have to get the right clips.
Mine fell off while I was backing out of the driveway. I just took it to the dealership at my next oil change, and they put it back on for free.
Looks like there’s some damage, but I don’t think it was completely ripped off. It seems like someone tried to remove a bolt and only managed to shift the shield… which makes sense since Priuses are a prime target for catalytic converter theft.
What brand heat shield is this?
Asa said:
What brand heat shield is this?
Toyota OEM.
Check how it was attached. If it was held by a plastic clip, it might have just broken off from wear or hitting something. If it was bolted in and is now loose, it’s possible someone tried to steal your catalytic converter but got interrupted.
Which part is that?
Penny said:
Which part is that?
It’s the heat shield that covers the exhaust. Mine fell halfway off on my 2013 C. Toyota used steel washers to hold an aluminum shield, which causes corrosion over time. I fixed mine with a big nylon washer.
Mine fell off on my 2011 too. It’s still in my trunk. These just fall off after years of rust and corrosion.
No, I don’t think anyone was trying to steal it.
Same thing happened on my 2010. The screw clamps rust away until there’s nothing left for them to grip, and then the shield just falls off. Mine’s been gone for years, and it hasn’t caused any issues.
Mine fell off halfway while I was driving on the highway a few weeks ago. We just removed it completely. Funny thing is, I had just gotten a nearby sensor fixed, and the shop told me they ‘noticed some clips missing’ but didn’t do anything about it. 
2010 models aren’t stolen as much as the 2008s.
My 2008 had its catalytic converter stolen right from my driveway—right next to the living room window. But my husband’s 2010 was untouched.