Does the instrument panel illuminate when you turn the headlights on? If not, this is probably related to the headlight switch. My inlaws have a NA Bird with a similar problem to yours. The headlights come on, but sometimes no taillights or instrument panel. If they flip the headlights on-and-off the tailights and dash will sometimes come back. (these birds have a really bad headlight switch/wiring design). The headlight switch needs to be isolated from the "hot wire" that feeds the headlights with a relay to prevent overheating of the plastic housing on the switch connection.
It may also be related to a bad fuse, if you haven't checked that already.