I don’t have a car right now and just looking around. Found a 2010 Escape for $5,000, but it has 191,000 miles on it. Worth it, or is the engine and transmission ready to quit?
2010 is actually one of the more solid years for the 2nd gen. Mine has about the same mileage and still runs strong with very few issues.
Offer $3K. No way it’s worth $5K with that many miles. Check Kelley Blue Book—it’s probably a lot lower than what they’re asking.
FordingTon said:
Offer $3K. No way it’s worth $5K with that many miles. Check Kelley Blue Book—it’s probably a lot lower than what they’re asking.
If I can get it for $3K, do I need to worry about the engine dying soon?
@Vivian
The 3.0 V6 in these is pretty solid. My 2010 Limited has an oil leak—loses about half a quart every 7,500 km—but it still runs great. Mine has 174K km on it, and honestly, rust will probably take it out before the engine does.
@Rowe
No engine is invincible.
FordingTon said:
@Rowe
No engine is invincible.
These engines do tend to leak a little oil, but hey, if it’s leaking, at least you know it has oil in it!
FordingTon said:
@Rowe
No engine is invincible.
That’s not a leak—it’s just the car sweating horsepower. 
FordingTon said:
@Rowe
No engine is invincible.
Lol, fair enough. But I’ve seen plenty of these running strong with over 300K miles, so they do hold up well.
@Vivian
The engine itself is solid. The transmission is what you need to pay attention to. Take it for a test drive and see if it shifts smoothly. Also, ask if the transmission fluid has been changed—it’s important on these.
@BrianCopeland
I just countered with $2,500 since the seller mentioned the windshield washer pump needs replacing.
Vivian said:
@BrianCopeland
I just countered with $2,500 since the seller mentioned the windshield washer pump needs replacing.
That’s like a $5-10 part from a junkyard, and you can probably fix it yourself with a YouTube tutorial.
@Vivian
Any high-mileage car is a gamble. Do you know how many owners it’s had? How well it was maintained? Oil changes? Transmission fluid changes? Driving habits? I’d look around to see if these are still running at 250K+ miles before making a decision. Personally, I’d rather use that money as a down payment on something newer, but it really depends on your plans.
These can go up to 500K miles if they’re well maintained.
I checked out a 2014 Escape recently, and it was a total junker. The 2010 models seem to be built better.
Pull a Carfax and ask for service records. If the seller kept maintenance records, that’s a good sign. No records might mean it wasn’t taken care of.
Also, think about your long-term plan. Are you looking for something to fix up and keep running for years, or just something to get by for now? I picked up an ‘05 Escape Limited with 121K miles for under $5K. It has some electrical issues, but with service records from four previous owners, I felt comfortable buying it.
Man, I wish cars this old were still rust-free where I live in Maine!
I’ve got a 2010, and it’s been a tank. Bought it at 162K, just rolled over 191K, and it still drives as smooth as when I got it—just keep up with maintenance. $5K is too much, though. Try to get it for $3-4K max. 2010 was one of the better years for these.
Check for rust, especially around the rear wheel wells and frame near the rear axles. Also, tap on the rocker trim—if rust falls out, that’s a bad sign. Flex pipe and drivetrain leaks are worth checking too. Otherwise, just expect to do spark plugs around 200-210K. In rust-heavy areas, these cars usually rot out before the mechanical parts fail.
You really need a pre-purchase inspection. We can all guess, but a mechanic can tell you for sure what you’re dealing with.
I have an ‘05 with 242K miles, and it’s still running well, but I did have to catch up on some neglected maintenance.
As for the price, some folks are still thinking of the used car market like it was five years ago. You can try offering $3K, but if the car is in good shape, they might not go that low.