Ethan Crossfield 
Collectors considering LEGO’s 1,794-piece SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom set may want to wait for more information before ordering. Several early copies of the $219.99 set appear to show cracks or similar marks on the back of Patrick’s new head element. The pattern has drawn attention, but current reports do not prove that every mark is damage or that the issue affects the full production run.
What changed with the upcoming LEGO SpongeBob set?
LEGO officially revealed set 11386 SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom on July 14 and opened pre-orders the same day. The set is scheduled to launch on September 1, 2026, making it one of the company’s most expensive releases for the year at $219.99. Its 1,794 pieces recreate several recognizable locations, including SpongeBob’s pineapple home, Squidward’s house, Patrick’s rock, and the Jellyfish Fields. A separate 72-piece SpongeBob BrickHeadz set was announced alongside it. Both releases mark LEGO’s first SpongeBob SquarePants sets in 13 years.
Who may be affected by the reported issue?
The concern centers on Patrick’s newly introduced minifigure head, one of three new minifigure parts included in the set. Brick Fanatics reported that multiple pre-release copies showed a crack or similar-looking mark in the same area on the back of the head. Its own review copy had the same feature, but the surface was smooth and showed no damage. Instagram user Brick_guy42 shared a more severe example involving apparent cracks on the back of Patrick’s head and arms. Brickset also found a crack on its Patrick figure, while YouTuber Just2good observed a similar mark without confirming that it was a crack.
Should collectors wait before buying?
The available evidence points to a pattern, not a confirmed product-wide defect. Two apparent cracks and two additional marks have been documented, but that sample is too small to establish whether the repeated feature is caused by molding, represents a weak point that could worsen, or is simply a normal surface detail appearing alongside a few damaged pieces. A newly introduced element could be more vulnerable during an early production run, although that possibility remains unproven. LEGO quality-control problems are uncommon but have happened before: in 2015, some copies of 75102 Poe’s X-Wing Fighter reportedly had canopy elements that would not close properly. The issue was believed to affect only certain production batches.
What collectors should know
- The set is scheduled for release on September 1, 2026.
- The reported marks affect Patrick’s new head element in several early copies.
- Not every documented mark has been confirmed as a crack.
- There is not enough evidence to determine the scope or cause of the issue.
- Waiting for more retail copies and further reports may provide a clearer answer.
Expert View
The reports are worth monitoring, especially because similar marks appear in the same location on several early Patrick minifigures. However, calling this a manufacturing defect would be premature. Collectors who pre-order should inspect the figure when it arrives and keep their purchase information, while those who are undecided can reasonably wait for broader evidence after launch. A later update from LEGO or additional production samples will be needed to distinguish a recurring molding problem from isolated damage.
