Welcome to the crazy world of error collecting.This guide features many of the different error types any Hot Wheels vehicle can have. It is broken down by the individual parts of a vehicle and some of the manufacturing steps. A basic Hot Wheels generally contains five main parts consisting of a body, window piece, interior, base and axle sets (wheels). Occasionally there can be an accessory piece such as a wing or surfboard. Every piece and the manufactureing steps have numerous ways to fail in their own unique way. Click on the links below to see the carnage.
Correct rim styles but wheels either too thick or too thin for location.
Wrong Size Wheel Set
A matching wheel set either too large or too small for the vehicle
One Wrong Size Wheel
One wheel on an axle set too large or small.
Mismatch Wheels
Two different wheel rim styles on a car.
Mismatch Wheel Types
Basic wheel and Real Rider axles mixed.
Wrong Size & Mismatch
Wrong size wheel and mismatched.
Matchbox Wheel
A wheel from a Matchbox car on a HW.
Hot Wheels Wheel
A wheel from a HW on a Matchbox car.
Reversed Wheels
Axles installed backwards on the base.
Backwards Wheel
One tire put on the axle with the spokes facing inwards.
Missing Tire Rubber
Rim missing the Real Rider rubber tire.
Backwards Tire Rubber
Real Rider rubber backward on tire so tampo faces inwards.
W Missing Center Hub
Missing the center part of a multi-part wheel.
Mismolded Co-Mold Wheel
First pass (inner rim) didn't form correctly. Second pass (outer tire) filled it in.
Miscast Wheel
Unfinished molding of the wheel.
Broken Wheel
Part of a broken wheel left on the axle.
Missing One Wheel
Missing one wheel on a peened axle set.
Missing Axel Set
Missing the front, middle or rear axel set.
Missing All Axles
Missing all the wheels.
Missing Axle Sets
Happens on vehicles with 3 or more axle sets.
Extra Wheels
Extra axle set of wheels or one extra wheel inside package.
Extra Wheels Inside
Extra axle set or wheel stuck inside the vehicle.
Uncrimped Axle
Little tabs molded into the base to hold the axle in place missed being crimped down.
Misplaced Axle
Axle is outside of its slot on the base.
Pinched Axle
Axel is bent when crimped to the base.
Pinched Under Body
Wheel is pinched under the vehicle body when assembled.
Axle Installed Wrong
Axle is inserted through the spokes of a wheel.
Unpeened Axle
Axle is not peened (flattened over) so the wheel falls off. Wheel can still be in the package or missing.
Wrong Axle Size
Axel set is too large or small for the car.
Unchromed Wheel
Missed the chrome foil hot stamped to the spoke design.
Mischromed
Chrome finish applied incorrectly.
Foil Edge Hit
Caught the edge of foil leaving a straight edge on rim. Coloring can be half missing or only a sliver.
Over Chromed
Foil applied more than once to rim.
Excessive Heat
Stayed under the hot stamping tool too long.
Tool Strike
The pattern of the wheel is pulled off when hit by the stamper again.
Wrong Wheel Finish
Wrong wheel used in the chrome process. This example has a 5 Spoke rear wheel that attempted to get just the outer rim chromed.
Mismatch Chrome
Same wheel but two different chrome applications. EX: Chrome rim ring on one wheel and all chrome rim on the other.
Dual Finishes
A wheel with two finish treatments. EX: The front wheel should only be all orange but this one got a chrome rim applied too.
Mismatch Colors
Same wheel but two different colors.
Missing Wheel Tampo
Missing the wheel tampo.
Misplaced Wheel Tampo
Wheel tampo applied wrong.
Tampo Wrong Side
Tampo applied to the back side of a wheel.
Double Wheel Tampo
Tampo applied to the wheel twice.
Retampoed Wheel
Two different tampo designs applied to the same wheel.
Mismatch Tampos
Correct wheel rims but different tampos on them.
Too Much Paint
Too much paint applied in the wheel tampo process.
Wrongly Tampoed Wheel
Matching wheels set but one has tampos when it shouldn't.
Vehicle Body Errors
Error Type
Description
Picture
Bent Body
Smashed or bent body before packaging
Mis-Cast
Holes or deformities during the molding process.
Unfinished Casting
Missing a large portion of the body.
Casting Tab
Extra chunk of metal or plastic on the base leftover from the molding process.
Casting Flashing
Excess thin metal left on the vehicle.
Broken Piece
Piece of the body broken off. Broken piece could be in the blister bubble or at the factory.
Missing Body Part
Missing a large piece of the body on a two part vehicle.
Missing Body
No main body piece on the car.
Extra Body
Extra car body in the package.
Body Only
Only the vehicle's body is in that package.
Base Errors
Error Type
Description
Picture
Reversed Base
Base put on backwards.
Upside Down
Base riveted on upside down.
Wrong Base
Base from a different vehicle. This '68 Nova has a '68 Cougar base.
Missing Base
Missing the base. Post can be spun or unspun.
Bent Base
Warped or bent not due to being misriveted.
Broken Base
Snapped or cracked base. Can be missing broken part.
Miscast Base
Incomplete molded part or cast with holes in it.
Blockage
Something in mold to cause a blank spot on the base.
Casting Tab
Extra chunk of metal or plastic on the base leftover from the molding process.
Flashing
Excess thin material left on the base.
Mischromed Base
Bad finish (Satin Look) or completely missing chrome in spots.
Debris In Chrome
Material stuck in finish.
Mispainted Base
Under or over sprayed paint on a base.
Missing Tampo
Missing the painted detailing on the base.
Misplaced Date Code
Put in a spot where it is illegible or obscured by mistake.
Bad Date Code
The code is a letter and number between 01-52. This one is B92.
Interior Errors
Error Type
Description
Picture
Missing Interior
No interior piece.
Reversed Interior
Piece put in backwards.
Upside Down Interior
Piece put in upside down.
Misplaced Interior
Interior piece out of place causing assembly problems.
Loose Interior
Part or all of the interior loose in the package.
Wrong Interior
Piece from a different vehicle.
Extra Interior
Another interior piece inside the package.
Mischromed Interior
Missing part of the chrome finish exposing raw plastic.
Casting Tab
Piece of plastic or metal left over from the molding process.
Window Errors
Error Type
Description
Picture
Missing Windows
No window piece
Missing Partial Windows
Missing one part or a multi-piece window.
Loose Window
Popped out or unsnapped window piece still in package.
Misplaced Window
Piece can be too far forward, back or crooked.
Backwards Window
Window piece in backwards.
Upside Down Window
Window piece installed upside down.
Wrong Window Piece
Incorrect window for the vehicle.
Two Window Pieces
Stuffed inside one car.
Extra Window Piece
Another window piece inside the package.
Miscast Piece
Unfinished or deformed piece.
Casting Flashing
Extra thin chunks of plastic left on a window piece.
Air Bubble
Air bubble trapped in window piece.
Double Tampo
Extra window tampo.
Stray Tampo
Random tampo placement. EX: Back window has another Super Tsunami tampo.
Missing Tampo Color
One of the design's colors missing. EX: No red on the banner.
Unspun Keeper Post
Post that keeps window piece not spun or crimped.
Paint & Tampo Errors
Error Type
Description
Picture
No Tampos
Missing the graphics
Missing Tampo Color
Missing one or more colors that make up the tampo.
Multi Tampos
Two or more applications of the tampo.
Single Color Dual Application
Only one of the colors stamped two or more times.
Extra Tampo Paint Smear
Too much paint caused by poor tampo application. Can be large streaks, blobs or long thing stripes.
Misplaced Tampos
Tampo applied too high, low, forward or back of where it should be.
Misaligned Tampo Colors
Different color tampo passes not aligned.
Tampo Color Shortage
One or more of the tampo colors applied too light or not enough.
Reversed Tampo
Tampo applied backwards.
Upside Down Tampo
Tampo applied upside down.
Retry
Tampo color or all colors applied upside down and then run through again correctly.
Bleed Through
Sometimes HW cars are repainted when there are leftovers. If not done properly, the car's first paint job bleeds through the new one.
Missing Main Body Color
Missing a main color spray in a two tone paint job.
Under Spray
Too little body paint applied leaving raw ZAMAC.
Over Spray
Heavy paint coat that fills in small details on the casting.
Paint Run
Body paint run.
Debris In Finish
Tape, fuzz or hair stuck in the paint or tampo design.
Finger Prints
Finger prints in the finish.
Final Assembly Errors
Error Type
Description
Picture
Too Much Force
Bent the vehicle when riveted.
Alignment Problem
Body and base not aligned when riveted.
One Misriveted Post
Only one of the two post misriveted.
Misriveted
Both post struck wrong.
Partially Spun Post
Post not fully smashed down leaving play in the parts.
Unspun Post
Only one of the two post unspun.
Unspun / Unriveted
Rivet posts missed being spun down to lock the car together.
Unlatched
Body is not hooked over or into the base to lock car together properly.
Tool Strike
Car was upside down in the rivet spinning machine.
Re-Try
Front post was already spun when the base was put on and then the rear post spun.
Miscellaneous Errors
Error Type
Description
Picture
Loose Engine
Engine loose in the package.
Mis-Installed Engine
Piece installed wrong.
Backwards Engine
Engine piece facing the wrong direction.
Missing Engine
Engine piece left behind at the factory.
Loose Wing/Spoiler
Loose wing or spoiler off the top, front or rear of the vehicle.
Missing Wing/Spoiler
Missing the wing or spoiler off the top, front or rear of the vehicle.
Backwards Wing/Spoiler
Installed backwards.
Misplaced Wing/Spoiler
Installed wrong.
Casting Tab
Extra chunk of metal or plastic on the wing leftover from the molding process.
Missing Fenders
Missing the fender piece.
Mis-Installed Grill/Bumpers
Piece installed wrong.
Missing Grill/Bumpers
Missing the front or rear bumper or grill piece.
Missing Interior & Window
No interior & window piece.
Sideways Hood
Hood piece attached to vehicle wrong.
Missing Hood
Missing the hood on an opening hood vehicle.
Missing Hood & Painted
No hood before paint and engine bay gets paint & tampo.
Loose Accessory
Any secondary piece loose in the bubble.
Missing Accessory
Can be missing a secondary part of the vehicle like the surfboards, driver or spare tire.
Extra Accessory
Extra accessory piece belonging to vehicle.
Extra Foreign Part
Extra part of a different car in the package.
Miscast Accessory
Any mismolded or extra material on a accessory part.
Multi-Error
Any vehicle with multiple problems not caused by a specific error. PIC EXAMPLE: ASW and Misaligned Base. NON Double Error Example: Misplaced window causing the car to not fit the base right.
Trapped Debris
Hair, tape or any other object stuck in the vehicle during assembly.
Raw Part
Unfinished or plated piece.
QC Arrow
A small sticker from Quality Control pointing out an error.
Wrong Sticker Application
Sticker applied wrong.
Misprinted Sticker
Printing error of the sticker.
Missing Sticker
No sticker.
Missing Promo Item
Missing the free gift or non vehicle addition to the package.
Wrong Promo Item
Wrong item or additional accessory packaged with the vehicle.
Packaging Errors
Facing Left: Most Hot Wheels face to the right.
Upside Down Car: Self explanitory.
Upside Down Bubble: Blister bubble is attached to the card upside down.
Sideways: Packaged with the body or base facing outwards.
Wrong Card: Mispackaged on another vehicle's card.
Empty Package: No car inside.
Blank Card: No blister attached. Can be untouched or struck by machine.
Misaligned Bubble: Can be too high, too low or crooked on the card.
Upside Down: Bubble and J hook attached upside down on the correct card.
Upside Down Cut Card: Correct card for the vehicle cut upside down.
Bad Cutting Alignment: Alignment of the sheet was off when cut.
Multi Failures: Wrong card for the vehicle and cut upside down.
Nose Up/Down: Packed with the front pointed up or down.
Missing Plastic Keeper: Second plastic part that holds the vehicle gone.
Trapped Part: Piece of the vehicle trapped in the bubble.
Wrong Bubble: This bubble is used on Code Cars.
Misprinted: Any card printing error.
Missing Foil Embosing: No chrome foil on the card.
P Misembossed: Chrome embossing mis-aligned on the card.
Mispackaged Accessory: Other pieces packaged wrong.
Two Cards: A blank card stuck to the back.
Misformed Bubble: Deformed or holes in the blister bubble.
Missing Backing: Missing the white or colored background cardboard.
Duplicate Car: Two of the same car in a gift pack or multi-pack.
Contents Inserted Wrong: Multi-pack sets or gift packs packaged upside down.
Wrong Promo Card: Vehicle name on card matches packaged vehicle but is incorrect due to the promo listed on the card.
Debris in Package: Tape, paper, J-Hooks, fuzz, hair, bugs, noodles, coins, string, metal slag, "ban-aid" like material, etc in the blister bubble.
Missing Name Plate: No name tag in a multi part package.
Extra Package Piece: Duplicate part of the packaging inside.
The * (star) symbol in red on a picture denotes an unknown owner of the error. Other pictures labled with error owner and authenticated.
Unmarked pictures are errors owned by Maelstrom610 and authenticated.