Understanding Error 90186: How to Fix Illegal Attribute Values in Amazon Product Feeds
Error 90186 occurs when an Amazon product feed contains an attribute with a value that doesn't match accepted formats or options. The error identifies the specific attribute, invalid value, and data path, helping sellers quickly locate and fix the issue.
Overview
Error 90186 is a feed processing error that Amazon returns when a product listing submission contains an attribute with a value that doesn't conform to the expected format or accepted options. This validation error prevents the listing from being created or updated until the offending attribute value is corrected. Understanding how to diagnose and resolve this error is essential for sellers who manage listings through flat files, inventory feeds, or API integrations.
Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know
- Invalid attribute values trigger this error — Amazon validates every attribute in your product feed against a set of accepted values, formats, and data types. If any attribute contains a value outside of what Amazon expects, the entire product submission for that item will fail with Error 90186.
- The error message identifies the problem — The error text specifies the exact attribute name, the illegal value that was submitted, and the path within the data structure where the problem occurred, giving sellers a roadmap to locate and fix the issue.
- Common causes include typos and formatting mistakes — Misspelled enumerated values, incorrect date formats, values that exceed character limits, or using text where a number is expected are among the most frequent triggers.
- Category-specific attributes are particularly prone — Different product categories on Amazon have unique required and optional attributes, each with their own set of valid values. Moving listings between categories or using generic templates often introduces invalid values.
How This Error Works
When you submit product data to Amazon — whether through Seller Central flat file uploads, the SP-API Listings Items API, or third-party listing tools — Amazon's feed processor validates each attribute against the product type definition for the relevant category. Error 90186 fires when a specific attribute contains a value that falls outside the acceptable range. The error message follows the pattern: "Attribute '{attribute_name}' has an illegal value '{illegal_values}' in the path '{path}'." The attribute name tells you which field is problematic, the illegal value shows exactly what was submitted, and the path indicates where in the data hierarchy the attribute sits. This structured error format makes it possible to pinpoint the issue without guessing.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
This error blocks product listings from being created or updated, directly affecting a seller's ability to launch products or make catalog changes. Knowing how to quickly diagnose and fix it keeps operations running.
Key Takeaways
- The error message provides the exact attribute name, rejected value, and data path to help you locate the issue
- Most commonly caused by submitting values outside of Amazon's accepted enumerated options for a given attribute
- Always use the latest flat file template or Product Type Definition schema, as valid values can change
- Check for hidden whitespace, encoding issues, or data type mismatches when values appear correct
Recommended Actions
- →Download the current flat file template for your product category and verify your attribute values against the Valid Values tab
- →When troubleshooting, use Seller Central's manual Add a Product tool to see accepted dropdown values for problematic attributes
- →If using automated tools or the SP-API, periodically refresh your Product Type Definitions to stay current with Amazon's schema changes
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