The problem is not with the oil pump itself but with the engine block. The block were machined incorrectly and the alignment dowel for the oil doesn't line up properly which puts pressure on the pump causing it to fail. You can change the pump before it fails but plan on doing it repeatedly. If you change it at 50,000 miles, plan on changing again at 100,000 and then 150,000 and so on. The only permanent fix if your engine is one of the bad ones is a whole new engine.

 

Thanks for the info AK, so if buying a 2003 and no motor swap plan on doing a oil pump swap every 50K, has anyone attempted repairing the alignment problem with the pump?