The temp control is a cable that routes down to the passenger side of the center counsel. you can look up and see it move as you slide the temp lever.
The vent control is electrical, push button control. Yes, sometimes it's the board in the controller that fails. You can change out the board.
It goes down to an actuator on the drivers side of the center counsel. Pull the lower kick panel and then crawl up under there and you will see the linkage. I've had the linkage fail, the actuator or the control board. You Pull and Pay yards are your friends. Poke around there first is always a good idea.