Car check · problems, recalls, fuel cost, price

Kia Rio 2014 in Ghana

What US owners report going wrong with the Kia Rio 2014, 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.

Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0

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 1
Owner complaints 52 7 crashes, 8 fires reported
Crash rating ★★★★☆ US government, out of 5
Fuel a month GH₵1,610 40 km a day
Import into Ghana Allowed about 12 years old

Can it come into Ghana?

A 2014 car is about 12 years old, under the 15-year limit. It can be imported until about 2028.

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.

Service brakes, hydraulic 23V652000 · 25/09/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

The risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

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.

Engine24
Service brakes, hydraulic7
Air bags7
Power train6
Structure6
Electrical system5

52 complaints · 7 crashes · 8 fires · 4 injuries · 0 deaths reported

In owners' own words

"Webwas deiving down the road and flames started shooting from underneath the hood we stopped car jumped out and looked back an whole front of car was on fire it burnt most of car"
Unknown or other · filed 08/07/2026

"I am filing this complaint regarding Kia America's arbitrary denial of coverage for a suspected connecting-rod-bearing failure in my 2014 Kia Rio (85,000 miles). The vehicle exhibits classic symptoms of the Gamma 1.6L GDI defect: excessive oil consumption (bone-dry after ~1,200 miles post-January 2026 shop oil change), flashing CEL, and loud rod knock after oil starvation. Kia corporate denied all extended warranty/…"
Engine · filed 03/20/2026

"I tried to get the parts fixed from the recall. However, when I tried to get it serviced I was adviced that the parts would take a few weeks to arrive. With an appending move to Helena, Mt from Lambertville, Mi they informed me that they would not be able to fix the recall issues. There is no KIA dealership within a reasonable distance from my current location. I am having issues with the dealership towing the rio w…"
Engine · filed 05/17/2025

Crash test ratings

2014 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD · US government 5-star ratings

Overall	★★★★☆
Front crash	★★★★☆
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★☆ 12% risk in a single-vehicle crash

What it costs to run in Ghana

US EPA fuel figures for the Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, at this window's Ghana pump price.

Fuel at 40 km a day

GH₵1,610 a month

Town driving8.7 L/100 km
Mixed driving7.8 L/100 km
Litres a month104
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 Kia Rio 2014 sells for in Ghana

Live listings on Jiji right now.

Asking Jiji…

Found a Kia Rio 2014 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 Kia Rio 2014 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 US safety recall for the Kia Rio 2014. 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 Kia Rio 2014?

Owners in the US most often report problems with: engine, service brakes, hydraulic, air bags, power train (NHTSA owner complaints).

How much fuel does a Kia Rio 2014 use in Ghana?

About 8.7 litres per 100 km in town (US EPA figure). At 40 km a day that is about 104 litres a month, roughly GH₵1,610 at the 1 Nov 2026 petrol price.

Can a Kia Rio 2014 still be imported into Ghana?

Yes for now: Ghana bars used vehicles 15 years and older from 1 October 2026, so a 2014 car can be imported until about 2028. 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.