Yes- I checked the switch, and it is turned all the way to full on, the brake lights and back-up lights seem to still lights work, and the switch still engages the headlamp relay when you have the hand brake on, so I think the switch is OK, but I'm too lazy and tired to dig through the shop manuals- any of you guys happen to know- is there a relay or fuse that could take down all the other tail lights and license plate lights?

I can't imagine all -what, three or four bulbs just died at the same time...

 

check your fuse box. put in a new one and see if the lights do it again. If they do you have a short to ground.

 

Check the harness that goes from the body to the hatch. Likely place to find bent and possibly broken wires and body shorts.

 

Thanks professors, I am an electrical engineer so I know about how fuses blow, and there are no taillights on the hatch of an 02 wagon, but thanks for playing...

Seems that Fuse #5; a 10A unit in the coin box fuse panel is the culprit, I changed the fuse and it seems to have solved it -for the time being anyway.

(I found my manual and figured it out looking at the wiring diagram)