Most thermostats would fail in that timeframe. Our original Nest thermostat failed this year because the connection that turns on the furnace wore out or became thin. Caused our furnace to click on and off repeatedly and ruined a relay on the furnace’s circuit board. Had to replace the thermostat and the furnace circuit board. Costly repair. Upgrade your thermostat before it wears out.
My thermostat is original to our 1941 house, and has survived a fire. My mom just sold her 1989 house with a digital programmable thermostat - also original to the house -that functions perfectly.
No part of a house should wear out and break after 16 years, except MAYBE carpeting. Building things like shit is no excuse for things being shitty, it's an indictment against it!