well ... as the title states -- the dashboard lights are dead. the illumination is anyways. All of the service lights pop on when u first start the car like normal, then when u turn on the illumination for night driving - it doesnt come on. I have checked the fuses and all are good. I even replaced some that were questionable.

any other suggestions ? Is it possible for the bulbs/leds to burn out or something? I have never heard of this problem happening before.
The car is a 97 subaru impreza L sedan.

ok, not tryin to be stupid but, you didn't mention checking this....and its always best to check the easiest stuff first. Did you check your dimmer dial? did it get bumped and rotated all the way down? if not, you need to search the forums for electrical diagrams and find the illumination wire for the gauges, test for current. trace to point the point of no current (probably a tee or some other junction), replace faulty hardware, go smoke your 205x55R15 tires in the middle of the night, take a picture and post it on nasioc.

yeah ..... i tried the dimmer dial -- i was actually hoping it was that, but no good ..... i will search the forums for electrical diagram and see what i can find .... thanks again.

I know you said you checked the fuse, however sometimes it is very difficult to see a blown mini fuse. Just change it out, ensure that the dimmer dial is on.

I have a 98 Legacy Outback...My dash lights go out periodically when I hit a bump in the road...Kind of a problem because I drive a stick and RPMs are helpful and if the lights are out I can't see anything...I have narrowed it down to a LOOSE wire...I hit the top of the dash and it all comes back on...This only happens once every two or three months.

My info shows the wires going to the dash lights are on A15 and A16. They are yel/blu and wht/yel. If the problem isn't due to a faulty connection at the connector then you should check the dimmer control operation using a test light.

The dash lights on my 06 Forester aren't working, same as OP. Changed out the fuse, checked dimmer switch. Weird thing is, this started just after removing spare fuse from FWD fuse spot after replacing a spare with a fixed tire. At the same time, I start having trouble with the airbags. Namely, the airbag light on the dash stays illuminated all the time, and the passenger airbag is "off" (according to center-dash light) even when I've got a full size passenger in and buckled.

Sounds like there is a loose connection somewhere. Since you have a warranty the service shop should fix those things.

On my dash only one half of the spedometer lights up. Could it be the bulb itself?

Yes. That is what is wrong or, a loose connection to it.

How would I go about replacing the bulb, it does not appear to be in an easily accessible spot.

I have never replaced a bulb myself but I think you have remove the front trim cover of the gauges and then remove the gauge panel itself.