Continuity mistake: In 1885 Hill Valley, the hills are shown to be almost directly behind the courthouse, however in the previous films there was some distance between the two. This was likely due to the different shooting locations. (00:26:40)
Continuity mistake: When Doc and Marty are chasing the train, first their shadow is on the left of them, then in the next shot it's on the right. (01:30:40)
Audio problem: When Mad-dog Tannen is standing over Marty, who is playing possum, you see Tannen cock his gun twice between two shots, although there is no sound effect for the first time. (01:27:50)
Deliberate mistake: During the train sequence at the end of the film in 1885, it is blatantly obvious that the train is not going the speed that the DeLorean's speedometer is showing. In some shots, the train looks as though it is going little more than 20mph. (01:38:55)
Continuity mistake: In the saloon, Mad Dog shoots at Marty, forcing him to dance. Marty goes into his moon walk dance, and just before he launches the spit jug at Mad Dog, he does a jump. Watch as he lands - the jug is suddenly 4 to 6 feet to the right of him.
Visible crew/equipment: During the party scene, towards the end when Marty and Doc are discussing the duel and the fact the train may be late, you can briefly see a PA system center left of frame (bass cab with PA head on top and above it 2 tweeters side by side) it would make sense that a PA system be on set during the scenes so the band and dancers had a soundtrack to mime/dance to. (01:01:29)
Factual error: When Marty travels back to 1885 and meets the Native Americans, we see a view from inside the car with the digital speedometer. The car is still going over 70 when the Indians are less than 2 metres away from the front of the car. There is no way the car would be able to stop that quickly from that speed.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Marty is driving the black Toyota pickup at the end of the movie, the truck's registration plate is missing - it can be seen when the truck is in the garage at the start of the film. Also the driver's door quarter light (vent window) is open. When we see the inside of the door it is closed. (01:41:45)
Continuity mistake: Just after Doc saves Clara from the ravine, the carriage flips on its side and rolls. In the next shot, it's stopped rolling and is falling neatly straight down. (00:41:30)
Continuity mistake: Watch as Seamus hands Marty the baby, there is a definite "jump" and Marty is facing in almost completely the wrong direction, looking for a clue from the set's crew as to where he should be looking to catch the baby from... (00:24:20)
Character mistake: At the ravine, upon learning that the bridge doesn't exist yet, Marty states to Doc "We can't wait a year and a half for this to be built". If you carefully look at the sign, it says the bridge is opening Summer 1886. That's under a year away, not a year and a half from Sept. 1885.
Continuity mistake: When Marty is about to race against Needles, he holds the wheel with both hands. An instant cut later, his hands are gone.
Revealing mistake: When Clara's dress rips off and is about to fall off the train, Doc saves her. One can notice it's not Christopher Lloyd but his stunt double. (01:41:17)
Continuity mistake: When Clara is about to leave Doc's workshop, the position of Doc's hand on the telescope alters each time we move from rear to front shot. (01:08:09)
Factual error: Preparing to run the model train in Doc's workshop, Marty connects the clamp to the positive terminal. But he actually connects to the white ceramic insulator. Doc correctly connects to the negative metal terminal. (01:10:01)
Continuity mistake: While Marty is outside the mine, the sun changes on the floor.
Continuity mistake: While Doc saves Marty from Biff the sun changes between shots.
Deliberate mistake: In the duel with Marty, when Tannen gets fancy spinning his gun, when he places it in the holster the grip is facing forward. They then use effects to turn the gun so the grip is facing back. (01:26:44)
Suggested correction: No, the gun is spinning on his finger and goes into the holster with the grip facing towards the back, which is completely consistent with the spin of the gun.
Revealing mistake: When Doc jumps from the horse to the train, right after he hurries Marty, the man on the horse is an obvious stunt double for Michael J. Fox.
