Car check · problems, recalls, fuel cost, price

Toyota RAV4 2017 in Ghana

What US owners report going wrong with the Toyota RAV4 2017, 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.

Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, 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
Owner complaints …
Crash rating ★★★★★ US government, out of 5
Fuel a month GH₵1,880 40 km a day
Import into Ghana Allowed about 9 years old

Can it come into Ghana?

A 2017 car is about 9 years old, under the 15-year limit. It can be imported until about 2031.

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.

Equipment 19V503000 · 28/06/2019

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

The risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading 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 August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Tires 17V295000 · 02/05/2017

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.

The risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
Electrical system 23V734000 · 01/11/2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

The risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.

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

2017 Toyota Rav4 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 (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, at this window's Ghana pump price.

Fuel at 40 km a day

GH₵1,880 a month

Town driving10.2 L/100 km
Mixed driving9.4 L/100 km
Litres a month122
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 RAV4 2017 sells for in Ghana

Live listings on Jiji right now.

Asking Jiji…

Found a Toyota RAV4 2017 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 RAV4 2017 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 US safety recalls for the Toyota RAV4 2017. 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 RAV4 2017 use in Ghana?

About 10.2 litres per 100 km in town (US EPA figure). At 40 km a day that is about 122 litres a month, roughly GH₵1,880 at the 1 Nov 2026 petrol price.

Can a Toyota RAV4 2017 still be imported into Ghana?

Yes for now: Ghana bars used vehicles 15 years and older from 1 October 2026, so a 2017 car can be imported until about 2031. 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.