Car check · problems, recalls, fuel cost, price

Honda CR-V 2016 in Ghana

What US owners report going wrong with the Honda CR-V 2016, its safety recalls and crash stars, what fuel costs you a month in cedis, whether it can still be imported, and what it sells for in Ghana.

SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alex Neman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alex Neman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alex Neman, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photos of the same model and year, not of the car you are buying. Ask the seller for photos of that car, with the VIN and the odometer in shot.

At a glance

US safety recalls 3 includes air bags
Owner complaints 395 40 crashes, 4 fires reported
Crash rating ★★★★★ US government, out of 5
Fuel a month GH₵1,660 40 km a day
Import into Ghana Allowed about 10 years old

Can it come into Ghana?

A 2016 car is about 10 years old, under the 15-year limit. It can be imported until about 2030.

Every used vehicle needs a pre-shipment inspection and a Certificate of Conformity from a GSA-approved body in the country it ships from.
Not allowed at all: flood- or fire-damaged cars, cars with chassis damage, and cars assembled from parts, according to published guides to the rules.
Import duty: 10% of the customs value for a petrol, 1,001 to 3,000 cc car (GRA's vehicle duty table). VAT, NHIL, GETFund and the ECOWAS, AU, EXIM and special import levies come on top, plus an age penalty on older cars.
The customs value is GRA's own figure (the car's price when new, minus up to 50% for age, plus freight and insurance), not what you paid. Only the ICUMS assessment gives the final amount, so never pay a "clearing agent" a figure you cannot see on the official assessment.
Buying a car already in Ghana? Ask the DVLA to confirm through ICUMS that duty was paid before you pay.

Age is worked out from the model year; the rule uses the date of manufacture, which can be a few months earlier. Source: GSA public notice of 14 August 2026, as reported by Citi Newsroom.

Safety recalls

Faults the maker agreed to fix for free in the US. A car shipped to Ghana usually never got the repair, so these are worth asking about.

Engine 17V305000 · 04/05/2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.

The risk: The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF6.
Air bags 15V714000 · 29/10/2015

American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CR-V vehicles manufactured October 12, 2015, to October 19, 2015. The metal housing surrounding the driver's air bag inflator in these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly.

The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began in November 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda'a number for this recall is JV9.
Fuel system, gasoline 23V858000 · 19/12/2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Recalls for this model and year. Not every car of the model is affected: check the exact car with its VIN.

What owners say goes wrong

Problems real owners reported to the US government (NHTSA). A high count on a popular car is normal; look at which part comes up most.

Engine102
Fuel/propulsion system65
Electrical system64
Power train45
Air bags32
Vehicle speed control28

395 complaints · 40 crashes · 4 fires · 36 injuries · 0 deaths reported

In owners' own words

"Vehicle: 2016 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD Mileage: Approximately 135,000 miles Description of Safety Complaint I purchased my 2016 Honda CR-V brand new and have maintained it regularly. My most recent oil change was in August 2026. For approximately two to three weeks before the incident, I noticed a rattling noise coming from the engine, particularly when slowing down or driving downhill. On October 30, 2026, while driving…"
Engine · filed 10/31/2026

"Upon going out to my vehicle noticed that the moonroof had shattered the glass is pointing upwards and I found information reduarding a possible lawsuit claiming Honda knows of this the vehicle is a 2016 Honda crv I have video and multiple photos of the vehicle to use for a claim"
Visibility/wiper · filed 09/23/2026

"On August 8, 2026, while operating a 2016 Honda CR-V (62,459 original miles) at highway speeds, the engine’s factory water pump experienced a sudden, catastrophic internal failure and froze completely. The seized water pump instantly sheared and shredded the serpentine belt. This induced an immediate, sudden loss of alternator charging, engine cooling, and power steering assist while driving at high highway speeds. …"
Unknown or other · filed 09/08/2026

Crash test ratings

2016 Honda CR-V SUV FWD · US government 5-star ratings

Overall	★★★★★
Front crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★☆ 17% risk in a single-vehicle crash

Front crash test · NHTSA
Side crash test · NHTSA
Side pole test · NHTSA

What it costs to run in Ghana

US EPA fuel figures for the Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, at this window's Ghana pump price.

Fuel at 40 km a day

GH₵1,660 a month

Town driving9 L/100 km
Mixed driving8.1 L/100 km
Litres a month108
Petrol price (1 Nov 2026)GH₵15.39/L

Uses the NPA price floor; pump prices are at or a little above it. Accra traffic and air conditioning use more than the US test, so treat this as the least you will spend.

What a Honda CR-V 2016 sells for in Ghana

Live listings on Jiji right now.

Asking Jiji…

Found a Honda CR-V 2016 to buy?

Check that exact car: the VIN shows whether the ad tells the truth, and which recalls apply to it.

Questions people ask

Does the Honda CR-V 2016 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 US safety recalls for the Honda CR-V 2016, including an air bag recall. Cars imported to Ghana rarely had the free US repair done, so ask for proof or have a dealer check.

What are the common problems with the Honda CR-V 2016?

Owners in the US most often report problems with: engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, power train (NHTSA owner complaints).

How much fuel does a Honda CR-V 2016 use in Ghana?

About 9 litres per 100 km in town (US EPA figure). At 40 km a day that is about 108 litres a month, roughly GH₵1,660 at the 1 Nov 2026 petrol price.

Can a Honda CR-V 2016 still be imported into Ghana?

Yes for now: Ghana bars used vehicles 15 years and older from 1 October 2026, so a 2016 car can be imported until about 2030. It needs a pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity.

Sources: US NHTSA and EPA public data, Ghana NPA fuel prices, Ghana Standards Authority import notice (14 August 2026). Figures are for US-market versions of this model.