Ghana, like many other African countries, is experiencing growth, and with growth comes increased wealth and a desire to indulge in life’s luxuries. Among these indulgences for the affluent is the purchase of high-end cars. Ghana imports over 100,000 vehicles from all over the world with the U.S, Germany and Japan leading as the dominant markets. A variety of vehicles, from EVs, sports cars, hypercar and luxury SUV find a new home in Ghana every day. Not all owners end up having a good time with the cars, some live to regret their decision massively.
Whether due to impulsive decisions, insufficient research, poor engineering, or inadequate maintenance, some cars that arrive on our shores become a nightmare for their owners, mechanics, and insurance companies. Their unreliability, coupled with limited availability of parts and repair expertise, often leads to frustration. With that in mind, here are five cars you are better off avoiding when importing to Ghana.
RANGE ROVER (2013 -2019)
This British marque may have conquered Africa and Indian terrains in the past, but one aspect that Land Rover can’t outrun is their woeful unreliable history. At this point it has become a running joke in the motoring industry that Range Rovers are for people that enjoy being tortured by their cars because its not a matter of if its going to break, but when it’s going to break. If you are lucky, it will break at home before you leave you driveway.
Almost every Range Rover model has its share of issues, but for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the 2013 to 2019 models, as these come with specific concerns worth highlighting. This generation of Range Rovers was notorious for air suspension problems, including slow raising, uneven lifting where one side rises while the other does not, as well as persistent electrical issues and more.
Although the Range Rover is stylish and luxurious, the issues that plague it makes owning one in Ghana a nightmare, especially poorly maintained used examples. One other aspect that makes the Range Rover a bad car to consider importing are the numerous recalls that have been issued for various models over the years. Some of the recalls include:
2013 – 2019 Recalls
- Cracked flange leaking fuel
- Latches and locks recall: Unlatched doors may open while the vehicle is in motion.
- Airbag recall: the front passenger air bag is disabled during a vehicle crash.
- Service brakes and hydraulic recall.
- Electrical system, exterior turn signal error.
- Steering: suspension arm detachment.
- Fuel system, gasoline leak in engine compartment.
- Seatbelt recall.
- Forward collision avoidance issue.
TESLA MODEL S (Earlier models)
Yes, I know, electrification is the future of mobility but not all nations have caught up, and Ghana is certainly one of those. The infrastructure to run any Tesla of any kind on Ghanaian roads comfortable is non existence. Unlike in the US where EV chargers are readily available in many states especially California, Ghana has less than 50 EV charging points nationwide. Importing a Tesla to Ghana will cost a pretty penny extra as you will need to make provision for a home charger.
One other scary reality about owning a Tesla in Ghana that potential owners need to consider is the availability of parts and expert technician in the advent of an accident. A quick google search on the interwebs will reveal numerous harrow stories about Tesla customers waiting ages for replacement parts for their cars after an accident, and many of these cases were reported in the United States.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/5y5xkc/repairing_my_tesla_model_s_has_been_an_utter/?rdt=34345I can only imagine how much of a nightmare it will be to need parts in this part of the world. To make matters worse, Ghana does not have specialized EV technician that are knowledgeable in Tesla cars that might be able to assist with troubleshooting simple issues. Best way to avoid all this potential stress will be to not import a Tesla of any kind for the time being.
MASERATI GHIBLI
One cannot talk about Italy without mentioning pasta, Ferrari, Venice and Maserati, the gentleman’s Ferrari. With a Ferrari inspired heart, the Maserati Ghibli looked to fill the void left by its predecessor the Quattroporte as Italie’s premiere sedan. However, the Ghibli was destined for failure even before it hit the road, thanks to Maserati’s notorious reputation for poor reliability and high maintenance cost.
The Ghibli F160 twin-turbo V-6 engine designed by Ferrari has some very strange issues that makes the Ghibli a bad candidate for import in to Ghana. The F160 engines has plastic components around the timing chain that may wear and lead to engine misfires or, in severe cases, catastrophic engine damage. Also, carbon build-up on intake valves is common with the Ghibli, leading to reduced performance and rough idling. To repair these issues along with many other potential issues can drain one wallet, don’t believe me? Go watch Hoovies Garage videos on his nightmare Ghibli.
2018 Ghibli Base Model Engine specification
Engine: 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6
Power: 345-hp
Torque: 370-pound feet of torque
0-60mph: 5.7 seconds
MAZDA RX8
The Mazda RX-8 is a head-turner with its sleek design and exhilarating performance. This quirky Japanese sport car is one of my dream cars, however, I know better than to import one into Ghana as that will be an extremely bad financial decision. At the heart of the RX-8 is the Renesis rotary engine, a marvel of engineering yet infamous for its reliability problems. Unlike traditional piston engines, the rotary engine requires meticulous care, frequent oil checks, and timely rebuilds to keep it running. Unfortunately, the Renesis is prone to low compression over time, which can lead to poor performance and, in many cases, a complete engine failure.
Secondly, Ghana’s 10-year age import restriction makes the RX-8 a poor choice unless you’re willing to pay hefty over-age fines just to get your toy on the road. With production ending in 2012, even the newest models are now 13 years old. Beyond the age limitation, the RX-8’s engine is bound to give Ghanaian mechanics plenty to gripe about for an entire year.
2012 RX-8 Base Engine Specification
Engine: 1.3 liter 2-rotary engine.
Power: 192 hp
Torque: 146 lbf⋅ft
0-60mph: 7.2 seconds
Topspeed: 139 mph
NISSAN MURANO (2009 -2014)
While the Nissan Murano is a perfectly practical SUV for many users, it has one extremely big problem, and that’s with the CVT transmission. The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is notorious for overheating and premature failure and with Ghana’s often hot climate and traffic congestion, the CVT’s issues can exacerbate leading to a breakdown sooner than expected. Repairing or replacing the CVT is an expensive and complex process, and sourcing parts locally is another challenge, making the Murano a costly headache for owners.
Transmission problem is not the only issue that Murano owners need to worry about, the SUV also has suspension issues mainly affecting the bushings, struts, and control arms that wear out quickly, requiring frequent repairs. Luckily, Nissan parts are readily available in the country, well with the exception of a good CVT transmissions. Best to plan ahead for when the transmission goes kaput.
Nissan Murano Recalls:
- Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy
- Brake Pedal Travels Too Far Upon Braking
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sensor
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