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It's possible for anything to break at a moments notice. However, most mechanical pump failures (mainly the bearings) are preceded by leaking out the weep hole and give you some time to take care of it. Not everyone's experience is going to be the same.
Mine was leaking out the weep hole when I got it home. I replaced the pump about 3 years prior because I noticed the leak but this time I was not so lucky. How often do you check for leaks under your car?