Car check · problems, recalls, fuel cost, price

Toyota Highlander 2013 in Ghana

What US owners report going wrong with the Toyota Highlander 2013, 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.

MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0
Guyon from Richmond, VA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0
Guyon from Richmond, VA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0

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 …
Crash rating ★★★★☆ US government, out of 5
Fuel a month GH₵2,420 40 km a day
Import into Ghana Allowed about 13 years old

Can it come into Ghana?

A 2013 car is about 13 years old, under the 15-year limit. It can be imported until about 2027.

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: 20% of the customs value for a petrol, over 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.

Seats 14V148000 · 27/03/2014

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2013 Highlander vehicles manufactured March 13, 2013, through August 6, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the second row left hand seat may not lock in place when positioned in the forward front or second adjusting position. As such, the vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

The risk: If the seat does not lock into the seat track, there may be an increased risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second row left hand seat so that it will lock into the seat track, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Equipment 13V123000 · 09/04/2013

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

The risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Air bags 13V014000 · 16/01/2013

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

The risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

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.

Getting owner reports from the US database… this one takes a few seconds.

Crash test ratings

2013 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD · 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 (S5), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, at this window's Ghana pump price.

Fuel at 40 km a day

GH₵2,420 a month

Town driving13.1 L/100 km
Mixed driving11.8 L/100 km
Litres a month157
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 Toyota Highlander 2013 sells for in Ghana

Live listings on Jiji right now.

Asking Jiji…

Found a Toyota Highlander 2013 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 Toyota Highlander 2013 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 US safety recalls for the Toyota Highlander 2013, 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.

How much fuel does a Toyota Highlander 2013 use in Ghana?

About 13.1 litres per 100 km in town (US EPA figure). At 40 km a day that is about 157 litres a month, roughly GH₵2,420 at the 1 Nov 2026 petrol price.

Can a Toyota Highlander 2013 still be imported into Ghana?

Yes for now: Ghana bars used vehicles 15 years and older from 1 October 2026, so a 2013 car can be imported until about 2027. 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.