Quote:
Originally Posted by dougl 
I'm wondering if the quality of steel used in the manufacture of this vehicle was very poor.
-dougl
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Just completed the subframe replacement on our '99. Usual symptoms - right rear mount rusted and detached.
The subframe rot seems to be specific to '99s as far as I can tell, as few folks with 2000 up seem to report it. Personally, I'm convinced this is a manufacturing defect on the first year 2nd gen '99s. It could be poor quality steel, but since its nearly always the rear RHS that fails,l I've got to think its a manufacturing defect in that portion of the subframe. Since the '99 and 2000 share the same fame design, I suspect someone fixed the issue during production.
Time will tell on our van - I fitted a used 2000 subframe. The only obvious difference was the number of plastic rivet holes for the oil filter splash guard. Beyond that, they are the same.
Either way, it's still inexcusable a '99 vehicle could suffer such a fundamental problem. It amazing no one has been seriously hurt or killed as it fails. If there was ever a need for a recall, this is surely it.
Paul
