Car check · problems, recalls, fuel cost, price

Toyota Highlander 2016 in Ghana

What US owners report going wrong with the Toyota Highlander 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
Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bull-Doser, Public domain
Elise240SX, 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
Owner complaints 111 14 crashes, 1 fires reported
Crash rating ★★★★★ US government, out of 5
Fuel a month GH₵2,180 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.

Electrical system 18E107000 · 27/11/2018

Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).

The risk: The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Wanda will notify owners, and service centers will replace the windshields, and inspect the ECM for damage, having it replaced, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2019. Owners may contact Wanda customer service at 1-864-281-2760.
Electrical system 16V775000 · 24/10/2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

The risk: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.
Equipment 16V420000 · 09/06/2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

The risk: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

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.

Service brakes19
Electrical system14
Air bags10
Exterior lighting9
Engine9
Tires7

111 complaints · 14 crashes · 1 fires · 11 injuries · 0 deaths reported

In owners' own words

"The component involved was the vehicle's seat belt/restraint system. While my daughter was wearing the seat belt, it became stuck around her waist/abdomen and became extremely tight. The belt continued to tighten and would not loosen or release normally. The seat belt had to be cut in an emergency to free my daughter. My daughter was sitting in the second row to the right. The seat belt became stuck and extremely ti…"
Seat belts · filed 10/01/2026

"The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear taillight covers cracked due to the high outdoor temperatures, and there was condensation inside the taillight housing. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the rear taillight covers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined th…"
Exterior lighting · filed 09/10/2026

"I was on Hwy 27 headed south bound at Bellecita Rd in Davenpoerrt, Fl. This is a busy four way intersection. I moved into the left hand turn lane. When the left turn green light came on I began my U-Turn to head north bound. The steering wheel would not respond to my input and the vehicle kept going straight into oncoming traffic. It took a great deal of bodily force to get the vehicle to respond. When it did respon…"
Steering · filed 02/05/2026

Crash test ratings

2016 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD · US government 5-star ratings

Overall	★★★★★
Front crash	★★★★☆
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★☆ 19% 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 (S6), 4 cyl, 2.7 L, at this window's Ghana pump price.

Fuel at 40 km a day

GH₵2,180 a month

Town driving11.8 L/100 km
Mixed driving10.7 L/100 km
Litres a month142
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 2016 sells for in Ghana

Live listings on Jiji right now.

Asking Jiji…

Found a Toyota Highlander 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 Toyota Highlander 2016 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 US safety recalls for the Toyota Highlander 2016. 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 Toyota Highlander 2016?

Owners in the US most often report problems with: service brakes, electrical system, air bags, exterior lighting (NHTSA owner complaints).

How much fuel does a Toyota Highlander 2016 use in Ghana?

About 11.8 litres per 100 km in town (US EPA figure). At 40 km a day that is about 142 litres a month, roughly GH₵2,180 at the 1 Nov 2026 petrol price.

Can a Toyota Highlander 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.