starter problem

[PATA]

Can a starter appear to work fine out of the car but malfunction in the car?

[KimMG]

Yes, when it is in the car, it is working under load.

[PATA]

Help! We replaced the starter and it worked fine but a couple of weeks later the same symptoms are happening again....it turns over but it wont start. Same thing it did last time before it died completely. What could be causing the starter to die so quickly?