I just purchased a 1999 le and the trunk mounted tail lights do not work but the reverse lights and the licence plate lights still work.. any idea what the problem could be??

 

The license plate light has the same source of power as the tail lights. However tail light power runs through a light failure sensor device. This sensor is supposed to detect if a tail light is out,.then trigger a rear light warning icon on the dashboard.

Device location is in the trunk on drivers side wall area.

 

My 1995 has the same thing and when the trunk light is out it pops up on dash. For a car that old good safety feature.