# 2012 Ford Escape - How long will it last **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** ford\ **Created:** [May 26, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090 "2021-05-26T13:32:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![18yearolddriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9de0a6/32.png) [@18yearolddriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/18yearolddriver)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/1 "2021-05-26T13:32:07Z")
My Escape has 65,000 miles on it and has been well maintained. How many more miles could it go? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/2 "2021-05-26T13:49:35Z")
I would not be surprised if it reached 300,000 miles with proper care. You **must** do transmission fluid service at 50K intervals and brake fluid flush every three years, oil change at or before 5K or 6 months, **which ever comes first**. Coolant changes at or before Ford recommended intervals. Any modifications to the vehicle may shorten its life span. ---
**Author:** ![18yearolddriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9de0a6/32.png) [@18yearolddriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/18yearolddriver)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 2:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/3 "2021-05-26T14:37:05Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/4 "2021-05-26T14:54:33Z")
> [@18yearolddriver](#): > > How many more miles could it go? There is almost no real answer to that question . It is a mechanical thing and mechanical things break . Of course your tolerance for repairs and service have a lot to do with how many miles you will put on it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/5 "2021-05-26T17:30:02Z")
Purebred gave you a good answer, but I want to add an important detail: HOW you drive it is as important as how well you maintain it. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/6 "2021-05-26T18:05:43Z")
Where you live makes a diff. Rust ends the safe and useful life of many vehicles that are otherwise able to keep going. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/7 "2021-05-26T19:50:36Z")
VDCdriver makes a good point. If you drive it like I drove at 18, it may not last another 10,000 miles. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 5:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/8 "2021-05-27T05:13:13Z")
If you live in the salt belt, Escapes don’t seem very resistant to rust esp. around the rear wheel wells. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/9 "2021-05-27T05:22:04Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > If you drive it like I drove at 18, If he’s like most 18-year-olds he’s hoping the answer is 3 months. > [@oldtimer-11](#): > > Escapes don’t seem very resistant to rust esp. around the rear wheel wells. Can you coat it with something? ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 5:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/10 "2021-05-27T05:36:18Z")
Anyplace where rust is a real problem, rustproofing companies abound. They do extend the life of yje car of skillfully applied. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/11 "2021-05-27T19:00:09Z")
I predict it will last exactly as long as you can keep up with the maintenance and repairs as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/12 "2021-05-27T19:04:15Z")
Or to the scene of the accident whatever comes first. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/13 "2021-05-27T20:55:07Z")
I’ve never owned a Ford but my Pontiac has 160,000. My Buicks had 500,000 and 350,000 and my Olds had 240,000 and 480,000, among others. If you are worried though, might want to trade for a GM. ---
**Author:** ![18yearolddriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9de0a6/32.png) [@18yearolddriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/18yearolddriver)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/14 "2021-05-27T21:56:17Z")
I have had GM a couple of times. Right now, I am into Ford. When I posted “18 years old” that’s my kid who is driving the 2012 Ford Escape. We’ll see how long it lasts. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/15 "2021-05-28T00:07:41Z")
Tell your kid to learn how to do maintenance, and keep learning. It is the cost of repairs that kill a car. Cars really depreciate too quickly, so that a $3000 car with many more miles in it is junked because it needs a $3000 repair. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/16 "2021-05-28T13:59:22Z")
The Escape has low mileage for the age so that is a plus. How long it will last depends upon how it is driven and how well it is maintained. You say it is well maintained but many people have made that claim on this forum and the real answer is that it was anything but well maintained. How often were the oil changes? Has the transmission ever been serviced? What about brake fluid exchanges; or cooling system? So what are the answers to those questions which I might add are just a sample. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/17 "2021-05-28T15:14:44Z")
Is this a hand me down within the family? If your family hasn’t owned it since new, you can’t know the maintenance history. If all maintenance was done per the maintenance manual in the glove box plus extra brake and transmission fluid changes about every three years, then there is an excellent chance it will last until you are in your mid-20s. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/18 "2021-05-28T15:14:52Z")
> [@ok4450](#): > > You say it is well maintained but many people have made that claim on this forum and the real answer is that it was anything but well maintained. > > How often were the oil changes? Has the transmission ever been serviced? What about brake fluid exchanges; or cooling system? +1, on all points. Almost everyone over the years who stated that his/her vehicle had been “well-maintained” turned out to be wrong when we delved into the extent of that maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/19 "2021-05-28T15:33:18Z")
It could last until it’s stolen, likely taken to a chop shop and never recovered. It could last until it’s stolen by a homeless person who breaks into your house, finds the key, lives in it for a month, then wrecks it running from the police. It could last until it’s t-boned by a teenager coming over a blind hill going twice the speed limit. It could last until it’s rear ended and totaled by a hit-and-run driver with stolen license plates. All of these events occurred to me or family members cars that were well taken care of but came to early demise. [https://www.reddit.com/r/IdiotsInCars/](https://www.reddit.com/r/IdiotsInCars/) ---
**Author:** ![18yearolddriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9de0a6/32.png) [@18yearolddriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/18yearolddriver)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090/20 "2021-05-28T16:02:41Z")
Sorry to hear about those cars tragic ends. I have had cars rear ended and never the same. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-ford-escape-how-long-will-it-last/177090.md?page=2)