Tail Light Switch problems of the 2005 Subaru Legacy

My rear brake lights and tail lights stopped working, my wiper would work intermittently, and license plate lights would not work at all. Took to a mechanic who diagnosed that the wires traveling through the rubber grommet to the rear gate had been broken due to a design in the path they travel where they are bent severely every time the gate is opened and closed, and eventually they snapped. He informed me that this was a common issue on my model and put new wires in place of the broken ones.

No failure of safety equipment but vehicle design promotes operation at night with no tail lights. When the light switch is turned off, the headlights (drl) and instrument lights remain on. This makes the operator think all exterior illumination is functioning, when only the headlights and instrument lights are illuminated.