A method and a device are for predicting a life expectancy of a product, which includes at least two components. The life expectancy is ascertained as a function of an assumed field loading of the product. The components of the product are acted upon by different loadings and are operated, in each instance, at the different loadings until they fail. An end-of-life curve of the component is recorded on the basis of the load-dependent failure times of a component. An EOL curve of the product is ascertained such that at the different loadings, it includes the EOL curve of the components which has, in each instance, the shortest failure time at the corresponding loading. The anticipated service life of the product is determined as a functional value of the EOL curve of the product as a function of the predefined loading of the product.