Factual error: When the tanker trailers are separated from each other, the trailer brakes would apply, causing the trailers to skid and/or stop. No one hooks up air lines on the pickups to prevent this from happening. (00:01:00 - 00:03:00)
Factual error: There's no way the pickup trucks could haul the stolen tanker trailers, even as modified as the pickup trucks are. The gas engines they are using don't have the necessary torque to haul the probably 30,000 pounds the full trailers weigh, and the trucks do not show a heavy enough suspension to haul the weight either. Besides, no one hooks up the airlines necessary to release the trailer brakes. (00:01:00 - 00:04:00)
Continuity mistake: When Dom steers into the path of the tractor-trailer to slow it down, the actual swerving of the Buick occurs immediately in front of the tractor, just a few feet ahead of it. As the Buick stops wiggling in the next shot, we can see the tractor is far behind the Buick instantly. (00:01:30)
Factual error: During the first theft of the tankers, the pickups backing up to the tanks throw an A-frame over the pintle hitches to steal the trailers. Aside from the fact that it is extremely difficult to hook up that type of hitch, even when stationary, there is a closure over the hook that locks the eye of the A frame in place to prevent it from popping out of the hook. It would be impossible to throw the eye over the hook on a normal hitch that way, and the close up shots of the hitch show the top closure missing. If it's missing, the eye would pop out of the hook either braking, hitting a bump or accelerating. (00:02:00 - 00:05:00)
Visible crew/equipment: When Han does the handbrake turn right at the start, you can see the camera car reflected in the chrome bumper in the closeup. Slo-mo helps but is not required. There are also skid marks from previous takes. (00:02:00)
Visible crew/equipment: Just after Dom says "T, you're up," a camera moves across Han's truck and up to the window. When it moves the shadow of the camera can be seen on the orange paint, moving. (00:03:00)
Revealing mistake: When the tanker first rams Dom, if you look at the background outside the car it is barely moving. Not even close to the speed we see them traveling at. (00:03:40)
Continuity mistake: The tractor trailer rams the rear of the Buick twice. Just before the second impact, we can see the rear bumper of the Buick is hanging well below its normal location and the sides of the car show crumpled damage. Moments later, the car spins around alongside the trailer and the rear of the car is undamaged. (00:03:45)
Continuity mistake: When the truck driver shoots at Dom at the start, we see his window smash in on him. Camera changes and it smashes again, but this time it smashes out, on to the road. (00:03:50)
Revealing mistake: Just after the Buick spins around to knock the trailer loose, we see the Buick speeding away backwards alongside the truck. If you look carefully you can see the REAR tires are steering, not the fronts. This car was modified with the body mounted backwards on the chassis because the transmission only has one reverse gear, so to get the speed and handling needed, the car had to be going 'forward' with a 'backward' body. (00:05:30)
Continuity mistake: Moments before Letty leaps off the trailer onto the hood of the Buick, a quick shot (just as Dom begins to say "You gotta jump!") shows the hood is already damaged from a previous attempt of this same stunt, despite all the preceding shots showing no such damage. (00:05:35)
Continuity mistake: We see the last fuel tanker split from the lorry and it then explodes on its way down the road. However, just a couple of seconds later, the tractor unit and other tanker are a lot further on. (00:06:20)
Continuity mistake: When Letty says to Dom they will work something out, her hands are on his face. Camera cuts and they're on his neck. (00:10:20)
Continuity mistake: After the theft of the tankers, Dom and his gang attend a party where Dom tells Letty that he wants her to quit because it's too dangerous. Watch Letty's right shoulder as it is alternatively bare and covered by her white blouse. (00:10:25)
Continuity mistake: When we see Brian running across the roof, his tie is over his shoulder. Camera cuts to a view from behind and the tie is not visible. (00:11:50)
Visible crew/equipment: When the guy on the roof stands and takes aim at the window in preparation for Brian, the film crew are reflected in a window behind him. (00:13:00)
Continuity mistake: When Brian and the runner fall onto the car, they fall in such a way that their heads are towards the rear of the car. When we see them "inside" the car, their heads are by the steering wheel. (00:13:45)
Continuity mistake: When Mia hugs Dom in the garage, her hands keep changing position and grasp on Dom's shoulder. (00:16:50)
Plot hole: Throughout the first half of the movie the focus is to locate and find David Park. It is believed this will lead them to Bragga and they can arrest him. However, later in the movie it is revealed that Letty was working with the FBI and was killed running drugs for Bragga. This means that the whole storyline to find Park was useless because they already knew how to get people inside. (00:18:55)
Revealing mistake: When Dom and Letty get out the car at the crash scene, there is a light reflected in the paintwork quite low. When the camera pans out you can see it's not the moon due to its position, and there is no other light source around that could cause the light to be reflected so low on the car. (00:19:15)
Chosen answer: It's a slightly tricky one to answer because the movie doesn't give very many clues. What we do know for a fact is the events at the start during and up to the conclusion of the Petroleum tanker heists was set before Tokyo Drift as evidenced by Dom speaking to Han with a view to returning back to Tokyo. After that it gets a little fuzzy. Some people claim the entire movie is before Tokyo Drift, but that simply cannot be the case as there are lots of 2008/2009 model cars around the movie, so the general consensus is the very start is before Tokyo Drift, and the time when Dom comes out of travelling/hiding and gets the phone call that Letty is dead is now after Tokyo Drift.
GalahadFairlight
This is not right. The entire movie takes place before "Tokyo Drift", as that is where Han dies. He is still around for the next two films and then dies in the seventh where events catch up with "Tokyo Drift" and then continues where it left off.
Yeah, Han's not dead either, he's back in the 9th movie.