Overview

Error 90246 is a product listing error that Amazon returns when a feed submission or listing update contains an attribute value that doesn't conform to the expected format. This error typically surfaces during inventory file uploads, API-based listing updates, or manual edits in Seller Central when one or more product attributes are structured incorrectly. Understanding this error is essential for sellers who manage large catalogs or use automated listing tools.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Root Cause — Amazon's system has detected that an attribute in your product data is malformed, meaning it doesn't match the required format, data type, or structure for that specific field.
• Attribute Details Provided — The error message includes an {attribute_details} placeholder that, in practice, will display the specific attribute name or value that triggered the issue, helping you pinpoint exactly what needs to be corrected.
• Common Triggers — This error frequently occurs with fields that have strict formatting rules, such as item dimensions, weight values, dates, bullet points with invalid characters, or browse node IDs.
• Feed and API Impact — If you're submitting inventory files or using the SP-API, a single malformed attribute can cause the entire product submission to fail, preventing your listing from going live or updating.

Common Causes

Malformed attribute errors typically stem from a handful of recurring issues. Incorrect data types are among the most frequent — for example, submitting text where Amazon expects a number, or providing a decimal value in a field that only accepts whole numbers. Special characters and encoding problems also trigger this error, particularly when product data is copied from spreadsheets or external databases that use different character encodings. Another common cause is exceeding character limits or using unsupported HTML tags in fields like bullet points or product descriptions. Sellers who use flat file templates may encounter this error when columns are misaligned or when values don't match Amazon's accepted value lists for restricted fields like color, size, or material.