'03 venture, 54k miles, dead fuel pump

My '03 Venture just needed its fuel pump replaced after only 54k miles. This is the first time I have ever had to replace a fuel pump in a vehicle (including the '98 venture I used to own) and most of my other vehicles I have had well into the 100k+ mile territory. I was just wondering if anyone else had to replace their fuel pump this soon.

Also, This van obviously was from NY (keychain from NY dealer, velcro on windshield for EZPass), and I noticed other things like more squeaks/rattles than normal, and struts that seem to be more worn out than should be. Are the roads rough enough up there (I'm in NC) to pound a car to death in relatively short miles? (It had 43k when I bought it) Just wondering if that may have contributed to my fuel pump's premature death.

TIA

Brian

the fuelpump is made of mostly plastic and made in mexico. it might have done alot of idling which would let the fuelpump have more wear on it than you think.

Good clean fuel and fuel filters keeping the tank over a 1/4 tank helps prolong the life of a fuel pump.
People that run there tank empty replace a lot more fuel pumps.
MT

Also if you think about it, your fuel pump is in the gas tank, so if you keep at least 1/2 tank most times the gas acts as an coolent to the pump. If you constantly run 1/4 to empty your pump is out of the gas and running hot all the time...

My understanding with modern EFI vehicles is that the fuel system is a "loop", meaning that there is a supply line running from the pump to the engine, and a return line from the engine to the tank. the engine takes what fuel it needs at the time, and the excess is returned to the tank. If that is the case, then wouldn't the act of circulating fuel act as coolant for the fuel pump? If that is not the case, then wouldn't the pump be designed to vary pressure depending on the situation, thereby reducing the chance of overheating?

I regularly run my vehicles until the low fuel light comes on, and this is the first vehicle I have had to replace a fuel pump on. I've lived in the south all my life, which is why I wondered if it had to do with the environment the vehicle spent most of its life in. Not a huge deal, just curious.