One off-shoot of some Hot Wheels collectors are what are considered as "Error Cars". In general, error cars are examples of Hot Wheels with some sort of odd difference that gets by the manufacturer's Quality Control.
There are a lot of different varieties found that can be considered as errors. These would include both vehicle and packaging mistakes. Some of the common vehicle errors are mismatched wheels, missing, broken or loose parts and tampo oddities. Packaging errors include vehicles packaged on the wrong card or blister bubble, cars packaged upside down or turned to the left versus the standard right-facing packaging. What some collectors might see as an "error", if more than one example of the mistake is discovered, others might call it a "Variation".
It's impossible to put a value on these oddities, even though they can be far more rare than any other Hot Wheels found. Error Collectors are a niche that determine the value of each individual example. Since errors can be faked, there's not a big demand for them in the secondary market.
Sometimes Hot Wheels models are released with with notable errors such as having the wrong Wheel Types.
These are most likely just oversights by the factory during production of the casting in question. Errors of this class includes things such as paint missing on one or more of the vehicles wheels, wheels being oddly undersized and vehicles having a pair of a different type of wheel when they shouldn't have.
XT-3 packaged upside down.
'32 Ford Packaged with a
Slideout blister (some might consider it as a package variation).
'64 Lincoln Continental in '70 Plymouth Superbird packaging.
GMC Motorhome facing the wrong way.
One too many at lunch time perhaps!
Dairy Delivery Trailer Edition on wrong card.
Doesn't happen too often but a nice one to have in the collection.
This is a 2009 issue Corvette in 2010 Scorcher packaging.
The car is the #92 Ground FX but the car belongs to the #94 Urban Agent.
Corvette Grand Sport upside down on packaging.
Package says 1962 Chevy Bubble Top, should be Mad Propz.
'56 Merc wrong way in packaging.
Buick GSX wrong way in packaging
67 Camaro wrong way in packaging
Ford Stake Bed in a Zender Fact 4 packaging
Two Toyota Tundras going opposite directions
2012 Thrill Racer Spectra packing with Blast Lane item inside
Upside Down Hot Wheels Car
excellent condition card with no car
Fast Fish, what is that? Dirt in the packing
Fast Fish, Dirt in the packing!
Fast Fish, Dirt in the packing!
Alfa Romeo 8C Competicione on Ferrari 458 ITALIA Card
2005 Acceleracers, Jack Hammer on Rolling Thunder card
Porsche Cayman S packing and Model, but letter in box is Ferrari 599 XX
Hot Wheels off road Toyota Easter car upside down
Lotus Project M250 Packaging Errors
'32 Ford Delivery 1999 Treasure Hunt in Jaguar D-Type packaging.
Jaguar D-Type in Solar Eagle III packaging.
Deora II in Aston Martin V8 Vantage packaging.
'69 Ford Torino Talladega packaged upside down.
Nitro Doorslammer facing the wrong way in packaging.
Skull Crusher packaged upside down.
At-A-Tude in Ferrari 550 Maranello packaging.
VW Drag bus in Street Cleaver packaging.
Sweet 16 II in Tow Jam packaging.
Monster Dairy Delivery in Jeep Scrambler packaging.
24/Seven in Imparable packaging.
Big Rig in GT Racer packaging.
'71 Dodge Challenger, upside down
'65 Corvette, Police in wrong way... ;c)
silver GT2 in red 959 packing
BMW 2002 on Ford Transit Supervan card
'68 Mercury Cougar facing the wrong way in packaging (Not Opened).
Corvette Grandsport in Chevelle SS Wagon package.
MX48 Turbo in Morris Mini Package
Hot Wheel is NOT a '67 GTO
2015 Hot Wheels design error. 2015 blue Night Shifter facing wrong direction. Plastic bubble matches car outline.
Hot Wheels Design Error. 2015 blue Night Shifter facing left (like Matchbox cars). The plastic bubble is contoured to the car.
2003 (#023) Vairy 8 in a 2003 (#022) 8 Crate package
LOOPSTER on FORMUL8R card
I guess it's an easy mistake to make!
Hot Wheels did make them face left once upon a time!
Monte Carlo on a Police Dodge Charger Card
This Diaper Dragger is packed upside-down :v (P.S. READ THE PAGE
Diaper Dragger to see the error)
2018 Wooden Track Car Packing Error
2018 Buns of Steel upside-down
McLaren 720S facing the wrong way
Cobra in 2022 #136 Lotus Sport Elise package.
E26 International card Error
The tampo on top is offset so much, it cuts into wheel well. The vehicle below also has tampo offset, but not as extreme.
This NSX has a very smudged tampo on the door.
This Dodge Viper has a silver tampo line across the door and a very heavy silver line across the bottom sill.
The passenger side 1/4 panel tampo is shredded on this 69 Charger.
The center section of the side is painted silver on this yellow '63 Corvette Grand Sport.
This '67 Chevelle SS is missing its tampo print.
The dark red '67 Chevelle SS also missing its tampo.
This Firebird 400 is missing its tampo print.
This Firebird 400 tampo is shredded.
This 69 Cougar Eliminator tampo is smeared & off-line, but you can still see the original.
This Custom '42 Jeep is missing its door tampos. I now have 3 of these so it may just be a variant.
Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 with displaced tail lights.
Someone kinda forgot to finish the stripe on this Mustang!!
Ferrari 458 missing the Pininfarina logo on sides
the bottom car does not have decals
found two error custom 11 camaro's short cards without decals at walmart
2012 '10 Camaro SS (Kmart Exclusives) - The top one is a normal car and the one at the bottom has a badly misaligned tampo.
A 2013 Phaeton with tampos and other phaeton not
2012 HW Premire #10 with the right side tampos missing, but the left tampos are correct.
Misaligned tampo (yellow stripe) on this red Ford GTX1.
'69 Ford Torino Talladega with the side tampo applied many times
'13 Ford Mustang GT with misaligned side tampo
Jeep Scrambler, misaligned side tampo
'71 Plymouth Road Runner, print smudged on this side
Final Run 6/12, Ford Bronco, side tampo displaced
"HIPPI" Mustang 1968, tampo on hood displaced
Monday-model, sloppy working Body, side tampo cracked, indicator tampo displaced, Base displaced
Monday-model, sloppy working Body, card-side and front tampo cracked
Monday-model, front tampo cracked, Base displaced
Monday-model, front tampo cracked, Base displaced
2013 Mars collection m&m smokin grille missing tampo
11 Ken Block Ford Fiesta Tampo Error No Ford Logo
Hot Wheels '69 Chevy Chevelle Missing Tampo
Lancer Evo tampo is partly missing
Plymouth Duster silverline left on wrong place
Plymouth Duster silverline left on wrong place
Plymouth Duster silverline left on wrong place
gold Armored Truck tampo displaced
The left chrager's right side tampo was missed.
No tanmpo on this charger.
Custom Corvette displaced tampo
55 corvette decal on hood crooked ..
Tampo on interior displaced
Find 3 on the peg, one of my top ten errors find!
Very Rare Canyon Carver without tampo on tank! one of my top ten!
2015 Dodge Charger SRT! Almost Nearly!
Subaru WRX STI. Missing White Tampo
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R. Double line! I have seen a few of these in the wild Nice to have one so keep looking!
il manque le tampo sur les cotés celle du haut ,et manque lecodesurla plaque en dessous Matel et 3191
il manque le tampo sur les cotés celle du haut, et manque le code sur la plaque en dessous Matel et 3191
The 55 Bel Air Ralston cereal promo presenting a white smear of paint alongside misaligned tampos.
McLaren Elva with front hood tampo missing
Mazda Autozam missing side decals
This So Fine has an only partly chromed grille, rest is black. This is a very rare error (possibly unique?)
1994 Dinty Moore mail-order Hiway Hauler. The machine has a slip-up with the plastic on the grill when carving the grooves into it.
hood was poorly painted on this GTO
damage to this custom cadillac
damage and color changes from gold to red
'81 Camaro, dirty paint, tampo displaced
'56 Flashsider, without headlights
Camaro Convertible Concept with red paint powder on seats and body (2011)
Engine is not perfect chromed
HW Mystery Model Velocita with some damaged metal casting
Glow wheel Ollie Rocket with chrome left unfinished
Funnybird All Black error
E17 paint or Tampo blotch
It should be white on the below part of this Tooned '63 Corvette, but it is black.
underspray RAW Bare Zamak x2 other errors too
Double Vision Engine attached backwards (some might consider it as a variation).
Packaged with an extra axle with one wheel attached.
The interior of this 'vette has been inserted incorrectly.
This '56 Merc was very badly assembled.
A Nissan GTR 2010 model with a front left hanging off.
RetroActive with engine loose in packaging
Armoured Truck with back door loose in packaging
Ford GT incorrect assembly
56 Merc with melted back lights
Lamborghini Roadster with excess flashing on wheel arch
Batman need a new licencedmechanic to fix the engine potition to make his Batmobile can go and start action!
what catagories should i put this one??? The one on the top come out with larger back wheels and the body look more fat than others....
TH Pontiac GTO with misplaced "glass" piece
TH Pontiac GTO with misplaced "glass" piece - 2
Unriveted Megane Trophy; car body is loose from base. Similar errors have been reported in other similar cases (2012 case L for Malaysia)
WHAT PIECE IS THIS ???????
Track T with a bent front axle
Ferrari FF with the body not snapped onto the base
This Acura NSX has a front axle which is bent in the middle.
Volkswagen Kool Kombi with an extra piece of metal pushing down on the base
Messed Up headlight and Emblem
'67 Shelby GT-500, misplaced glas on back
'67 Shelby GT-500, misplaced glas on back
'70 Dodge Charger R/T, sloppy working Body
'68 COPO Camaro, Base cracked
'68 COPO Camaro, Base cracked
Hot Wheels The Simpsons Hood Scoop Error
Sol-Aire CX4 displaced Window
Sol-Aire CX4 with displaced window
Lamborghini Urus Base in wrong way
Lamborghini Urus Base in wrong way
Lamborghini Urus Base in wrong way
Porsche Panamera window wrong placed
Porsche Panamera window wrong placed
Lionheart IndyCar, additional painted lint
Lionheart IndyCar, additional painted lint
1959 Impala, from 1998, with a blade of grass, Packing completely closed
Also note that the cars are facing different directions too!
Batman: Ankham Asylum Batmobile with extra part 2015 HW CITY
Batman: Ankham Asylum Batmobile with extra part 2015 HW CITY
Batman: Ankham Asylum Batmobile with extra part 2015 HW CITY
Plymouth Barracuda Steering not on his place
Honda Civic EF The body and base was separated.
Base of this 55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser is not riveted and aligned properly
Front wheel pressed in the body
Front wheel pressed in the body
'69 Firebird T/A window in wrong way
1968 Torero, error displaced Window, all pins ok!
1968 Torero, error displaced Window, all pins ok!
16 Honda Civic Type R miss assembled
Arrow Dynamic Treasure Hunt with bent wheel
Chaparral two of the Collectors Button in the unopened Blister
Brabham Repco F1 a piece of wool pinched.
Brabham Repco F1 a piece of wool pinched.
Cruella de Vil misassembled
'96 Nissan 180SX Type X displaced and cracked Base
Tesla Roadster with Starman missing plastic right headlight cover
(2019) Lamborghini Reventon Roadster - Misaligned Base by Jairzinh0
Porscher Broken Headlights
Datsun Fairlady 2000 with molding error
Ths Pagani has seen better days
Something is wrong in the Bedlam’s wheel…
51st anniversary Plymouth Superbird. Has a dragging right-front wheel.
2018 HW Glow Wheels Crescendo came with the front axle slightly bent and wheels put extremely close to the front of the car
Audacious with excess metal left on which presses on this wheel
2008 Lancer Evolution with a little bent front
Fast 4WD with excess metal pressuring the front left wheel
Rocket Box with excess metal pressuring the back left wheel
Purge error I call them Rust Outs
13338 Looks like old Skool outside Water Air flow Air Conditioner
visit 2 Jurrasic Park results Dinosaur Bite
just few of These ERRORS it happens alot on Kool Kombi 2014-Nov image
No Windows + CrAzY Tampo 2015-073
Purge or Paint Blob TONGUE
Honda Civic with a broken spoiler