diff --git a/pkg/api/errors/errors.go b/pkg/api/errors/errors.go
index 70c43b40c9..149653e022 100644
--- a/pkg/api/errors/errors.go
+++ b/pkg/api/errors/errors.go
@@ -19,53 +19,85 @@ package errors
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/golang/glog"
 )
 
-// ValidationErrorEnum is a type of validation error.
-type ValidationErrorEnum string
+// ValidationErrorType is a machine readable value providing more detail about why
+// a field is invalid.  These values are expected to match 1-1 with
+// CauseType in api/types.go.
+type ValidationErrorType string
 
-// These are known errors of validation.
 const (
-	Invalid      ValidationErrorEnum = "invalid value"
-	NotSupported ValidationErrorEnum = "unsupported value"
-	Duplicate    ValidationErrorEnum = "duplicate value"
-	NotFound     ValidationErrorEnum = "not found"
+	// ValidationErrorTypeNotFound is used to report failure to find a requested value
+	// (e.g. looking up an ID).
+	ValidationErrorTypeNotFound ValidationErrorType = "fieldValueNotFound"
+	// ValidationErrorTypeRequired is used to report required values that are not
+	// provided (e.g. empty strings, null values, or empty arrays).
+	ValidationErrorTypeRequired ValidationErrorType = "fieldValueRequired"
+	// ValidationErrorTypeDuplicate is used to report collisions of values that must be
+	// unique (e.g. unique IDs).
+	ValidationErrorTypeDuplicate ValidationErrorType = "fieldValueDuplicate"
+	// ValidationErrorTypeInvalid is used to report malformed values (e.g. failed regex
+	// match).
+	ValidationErrorTypeInvalid ValidationErrorType = "fieldValueInvalid"
+	// ValidationErrorTypeNotSupported is used to report valid (as per formatting rules)
+	// values that can not be handled (e.g. an enumerated string).
+	ValidationErrorTypeNotSupported ValidationErrorType = "fieldValueNotSupported"
 )
 
+func ValueOf(t ValidationErrorType) string {
+	switch t {
+	case ValidationErrorTypeNotFound:
+		return "not found"
+	case ValidationErrorTypeRequired:
+		return "required value"
+	case ValidationErrorTypeDuplicate:
+		return "duplicate value"
+	case ValidationErrorTypeInvalid:
+		return "invalid value"
+	case ValidationErrorTypeNotSupported:
+		return "unsupported value"
+	default:
+		glog.Errorf("unrecognized validation type: %#v", t)
+		return ""
+	}
+}
+
 // ValidationError is an implementation of the 'error' interface, which represents an error of validation.
 type ValidationError struct {
-	Type     ValidationErrorEnum
+	Type     ValidationErrorType
 	Field    string
 	BadValue interface{}
 }
 
 func (v ValidationError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v '%v'", v.Field, v.Type, v.BadValue)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v '%v'", v.Field, ValueOf(v.Type), v.BadValue)
 }
 
-// NewInvalid returns a ValidationError indicating "invalid value".  Use this to
-// report malformed values (e.g. failed regex match) or missing "required" fields.
+// NewInvalid returns a ValidationError indicating "value required"
+func NewRequired(field string, value interface{}) ValidationError {
+	return ValidationError{ValidationErrorTypeRequired, field, value}
+}
+
+// NewInvalid returns a ValidationError indicating "invalid value"
 func NewInvalid(field string, value interface{}) ValidationError {
-	return ValidationError{Invalid, field, value}
+	return ValidationError{ValidationErrorTypeInvalid, field, value}
 }
 
-// NewNotSupported returns a ValidationError indicating "unsuported value".  Use
-// this to report valid (as per formatting rules) values that can not be handled
-// (e.g. an enumerated string).
+// NewNotSupported returns a ValidationError indicating "unsupported value"
 func NewNotSupported(field string, value interface{}) ValidationError {
-	return ValidationError{NotSupported, field, value}
+	return ValidationError{ValidationErrorTypeNotSupported, field, value}
 }
 
-// NewDuplicate returns a ValidationError indicating "duplicate value".  Use this
-// to report collisions of values that must be unique (e.g. unique IDs).
+// NewDuplicate returns a ValidationError indicating "duplicate value"
 func NewDuplicate(field string, value interface{}) ValidationError {
-	return ValidationError{Duplicate, field, value}
+	return ValidationError{ValidationErrorTypeDuplicate, field, value}
 }
 
-// NewNotFound returns a ValidationError indicating "value not found".  Use this
-// to report failure to find a requested value (e.g. looking up an ID).
+// NewNotFound returns a ValidationError indicating "value not found"
 func NewNotFound(field string, value interface{}) ValidationError {
-	return ValidationError{NotFound, field, value}
+	return ValidationError{ValidationErrorTypeNotFound, field, value}
 }
 
 // ErrorList is a collection of errors.  This does not implement the error
@@ -74,7 +106,7 @@ func NewNotFound(field string, value interface{}) ValidationError {
 // the ToError() method, which will return nil for an empty ErrorList.
 type ErrorList []error
 
-// This helper implements the error interface for ErrorList, but must prevents
+// This helper implements the error interface for ErrorList, but prevents
 // accidental conversion of ErrorList to error.
 type errorListInternal ErrorList
 
@@ -97,3 +129,27 @@ func (list ErrorList) ToError() error {
 	}
 	return errorListInternal(list)
 }
+
+// Prefix adds a prefix to the Field of every ValidationError in the list. Returns
+// the list for convenience.
+func (list ErrorList) Prefix(prefix string) ErrorList {
+	for i := range list {
+		if err, ok := list[i].(ValidationError); ok {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(err.Field, "[") {
+				err.Field = prefix + err.Field
+			} else if len(err.Field) != 0 {
+				err.Field = prefix + "." + err.Field
+			} else {
+				err.Field = prefix
+			}
+			list[i] = err
+		}
+	}
+	return list
+}
+
+// PrefixIndex adds an index to the Field of every ValidationError in the list. Returns
+// the list for convenience.
+func (list ErrorList) PrefixIndex(index int) ErrorList {
+	return list.Prefix(fmt.Sprintf("[%d]", index))
+}
diff --git a/pkg/api/errors/errors_test.go b/pkg/api/errors/errors_test.go
index d42345bbca..bd4a72a154 100644
--- a/pkg/api/errors/errors_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/errors/errors_test.go
@@ -18,29 +18,34 @@ package errors
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
 func TestMakeFuncs(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		fn       func() ValidationError
-		expected ValidationErrorEnum
+		expected ValidationErrorType
 	}{
 		{
 			func() ValidationError { return NewInvalid("f", "v") },
-			Invalid,
+			ValidationErrorTypeInvalid,
 		},
 		{
 			func() ValidationError { return NewNotSupported("f", "v") },
-			NotSupported,
+			ValidationErrorTypeNotSupported,
 		},
 		{
 			func() ValidationError { return NewDuplicate("f", "v") },
-			Duplicate,
+			ValidationErrorTypeDuplicate,
 		},
 		{
 			func() ValidationError { return NewNotFound("f", "v") },
-			NotFound,
+			ValidationErrorTypeNotFound,
+		},
+		{
+			func() ValidationError { return NewRequired("f", "v") },
+			ValidationErrorTypeRequired,
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -52,8 +57,21 @@ func TestMakeFuncs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestValidationError(t *testing.T) {
+	s := NewInvalid("foo", "bar").Error()
+	if !strings.Contains(s, "foo") || !strings.Contains(s, "bar") || !strings.Contains(s, ValueOf(ValidationErrorTypeInvalid)) {
+		t.Errorf("error message did not contain expected values, got %s", s)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestErrorList(t *testing.T) {
 	errList := ErrorList{}
+	if a := errList.ToError(); a != nil {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected non-nil error for empty list: %v", a)
+	}
+	if a := errorListInternal(errList).Error(); a != "" {
+		t.Errorf("expected empty string, got %v", a)
+	}
 	errList = append(errList, NewInvalid("field", "value"))
 	// The fact that this compiles is the test.
 }
@@ -83,3 +101,63 @@ func TestErrorListToError(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestErrListPrefix(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Err      ValidationError
+		Expected string
+	}{
+		{
+			NewNotFound("[0].bar", "value"),
+			"foo[0].bar",
+		},
+		{
+			NewInvalid("field", "value"),
+			"foo.field",
+		},
+		{
+			NewDuplicate("", "value"),
+			"foo",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, testCase := range testCases {
+		errList := ErrorList{testCase.Err}
+		prefix := errList.Prefix("foo")
+		if prefix == nil || len(prefix) != len(errList) {
+			t.Errorf("Prefix should return self")
+		}
+		if e, a := testCase.Expected, errList[0].(ValidationError).Field; e != a {
+			t.Errorf("expected %s, got %s", e, a)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestErrListPrefixIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Err      ValidationError
+		Expected string
+	}{
+		{
+			NewNotFound("[0].bar", "value"),
+			"[1][0].bar",
+		},
+		{
+			NewInvalid("field", "value"),
+			"[1].field",
+		},
+		{
+			NewDuplicate("", "value"),
+			"[1]",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, testCase := range testCases {
+		errList := ErrorList{testCase.Err}
+		prefix := errList.PrefixIndex(1)
+		if prefix == nil || len(prefix) != len(errList) {
+			t.Errorf("PrefixIndex should return self")
+		}
+		if e, a := testCase.Expected, errList[0].(ValidationError).Field; e != a {
+			t.Errorf("expected %s, got %s", e, a)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/api/types.go b/pkg/api/types.go
index 1d290b4d42..b1dfaeb384 100644
--- a/pkg/api/types.go
+++ b/pkg/api/types.go
@@ -362,13 +362,13 @@ type Status struct {
 	JSONBase `json:",inline" yaml:",inline"`
 	// One of: "success", "failure", "working" (for operations not yet completed)
 	Status string `json:"status,omitempty" yaml:"status,omitempty"`
-	// A human readable description of the status of this operation.
+	// A human-readable description of the status of this operation.
 	Message string `json:"message,omitempty" yaml:"message,omitempty"`
-	// A machine readable description of why this operation is in the
+	// A machine-readable description of why this operation is in the
 	// "failure" or "working" status. If this value is empty there
 	// is no information available. A Reason clarifies an HTTP status
 	// code but does not override it.
-	Reason ReasonType `json:"reason,omitempty" yaml:"reason,omitempty"`
+	Reason StatusReason `json:"reason,omitempty" yaml:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// Extended data associated with the reason.  Each reason may define its
 	// own extended details. This field is optional and the data returned
 	// is not guaranteed to conform to any schema except that defined by
@@ -385,12 +385,15 @@ type Status struct {
 // and should assume that any attribute may be empty, invalid, or under
 // defined.
 type StatusDetails struct {
-	// The ID attribute of the resource associated with the status ReasonType
+	// The ID attribute of the resource associated with the status StatusReason
 	// (when there is a single ID which can be described).
 	ID string `json:"id,omitempty" yaml:"id,omitempty"`
-	// The kind attribute of the resource associated with the status ReasonType.
+	// The kind attribute of the resource associated with the status StatusReason.
 	// On some operations may differ from the requested resource Kind.
 	Kind string `json:"kind,omitempty" yaml:"kind,omitempty"`
+	// The Causes array includes more details associated with the StatusReason
+	// failure. Not all StatusReasons may provide detailed causes.
+	Causes []StatusCause `json:"causes,omitempty" yaml:"causes,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Values of Status.Status
@@ -400,19 +403,19 @@ const (
 	StatusWorking = "working"
 )
 
-// ReasonType is an enumeration of possible failure causes.  Each ReasonType
+// StatusReason is an enumeration of possible failure causes.  Each StatusReason
 // must map to a single HTTP status code, but multiple reasons may map
 // to the same HTTP status code.
 // TODO: move to apiserver
-type ReasonType string
+type StatusReason string
 
 const (
-	// ReasonTypeUnknown means the server has declined to indicate a specific reason.
+	// StatusReasonUnknown means the server has declined to indicate a specific reason.
 	// The details field may contain other information about this error.
 	// Status code 500.
-	ReasonTypeUnknown ReasonType = ""
+	StatusReasonUnknown StatusReason = ""
 
-	// ReasonTypeWorking means the server is processing this request and will complete
+	// StatusReasonWorking means the server is processing this request and will complete
 	// at a future time.
 	// Details (optional):
 	//   "kind" string - the name of the resource being referenced ("operation" today)
@@ -422,7 +425,7 @@ const (
 	//   "Location" - HTTP header populated with a URL that can retrieved the final
 	//                status of this operation.
 	// Status code 202
-	ReasonTypeWorking ReasonType = "working"
+	StatusReasonWorking StatusReason = "working"
 
 	// ResourceTypeNotFound means one or more resources required for this operation
 	// could not be found.
@@ -432,21 +435,78 @@ const (
 	//                   resource.
 	//   "id"   string - the identifier of the missing resource
 	// Status code 404
-	ReasonTypeNotFound ReasonType = "not_found"
+	StatusReasonNotFound StatusReason = "not_found"
 
-	// ReasonTypeAlreadyExists means the resource you are creating already exists.
+	// StatusReasonAlreadyExists means the resource you are creating already exists.
 	// Details (optional):
 	//   "kind" string - the kind attribute of the conflicting resource
 	//   "id"   string - the identifier of the conflicting resource
 	// Status code 409
-	ReasonTypeAlreadyExists ReasonType = "already_exists"
+	StatusReasonAlreadyExists StatusReason = "already_exists"
 
 	// ResourceTypeConflict means the requested update operation cannot be completed
 	// due to a conflict in the operation. The client may need to alter the request.
 	// Each resource may define custom details that indicate the nature of the
 	// conflict.
 	// Status code 409
-	ReasonTypeConflict ReasonType = "conflict"
+	StatusReasonConflict StatusReason = "conflict"
+
+	// ResourceTypeInvalid means the requested create or update operation cannot be
+	// completed due to invalid data provided as part of the request. The client may
+	// need to alter the request. When set, the client may use the StatusDetails
+	// message field as a summary of the issues encountered.
+	// Details (optional):
+	//   "kind" string - the kind attribute of the invalid resource
+	//   "id"   string - the identifier of the invalid resource
+	//   "causes"      - one or more StatusCause entries indicating the data in the
+	//                   provided resource that was invalid.  The code, message, and
+	//                   field attributes will be set.
+	// Status code 422
+	StatusReasonInvalid StatusReason = "invalid"
+)
+
+// StatusCause provides more information about an api.Status failure, including
+// cases when multiple errors are encountered.
+type StatusCause struct {
+	// A machine-readable description of the cause of the error. If this value is
+	// empty there is no information available.
+	Type CauseType `json:"reason,omitempty" yaml:"reason,omitempty"`
+	// A human-readable description of the cause of the error.  This field may be
+	// presented as-is to a reader.
+	Message string `json:"message,omitempty" yaml:"message,omitempty"`
+	// The field of the resource that has caused this error, as named by its JSON
+	// serialization. May include dot and postfix notation for nested attributes.
+	// Arrays are zero-indexed.  Fields may appear more than once in an array of
+	// causes due to fields having multiple errors.
+	// Optional.
+	//
+	// Examples:
+	//   "name" - the field "name" on the current resource
+	//   "items[0].name" - the field "name" on the first array entry in "items"
+	Field string `json:"field,omitempty" yaml:"field,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// CauseType is a machine readable value providing more detail about what
+// occured in a status response. An operation may have multiple causes for a
+// status (whether failure, success, or working).
+type CauseType string
+
+const (
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueNotFound is used to report failure to find a requested value
+	// (e.g. looking up an ID).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueNotFound CauseType = "fieldValueNotFound"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueInvalid is used to report required values that are not
+	// provided (e.g. empty strings, null values, or empty arrays).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueRequired CauseType = "fieldValueRequired"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueDuplicate is used to report collisions of values that must be
+	// unique (e.g. unique IDs).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueDuplicate CauseType = "fieldValueDuplicate"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueInvalid is used to report malformed values (e.g. failed regex
+	// match).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueInvalid CauseType = "fieldValueInvalid"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueNotSupported is used to report valid (as per formatting rules)
+	// values that can not be handled (e.g. an enumerated string).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueNotSupported CauseType = "fieldValueNotSupported"
 )
 
 // ServerOp is an operation delivered to API clients.
diff --git a/pkg/api/v1beta1/types.go b/pkg/api/v1beta1/types.go
index a076b5986b..74468ce396 100644
--- a/pkg/api/v1beta1/types.go
+++ b/pkg/api/v1beta1/types.go
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ type Status struct {
 	// "failure" or "working" status. If this value is empty there
 	// is no information available. A Reason clarifies an HTTP status
 	// code but does not override it.
-	Reason ReasonType `json:"reason,omitempty" yaml:"reason,omitempty"`
+	Reason StatusReason `json:"reason,omitempty" yaml:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// Extended data associated with the reason.  Each reason may define its
 	// own extended details. This field is optional and the data returned
 	// is not guaranteed to conform to any schema except that defined by
@@ -389,12 +389,15 @@ type Status struct {
 // and should assume that any attribute may be empty, invalid, or under
 // defined.
 type StatusDetails struct {
-	// The ID attribute of the resource associated with the status ReasonType
+	// The ID attribute of the resource associated with the status StatusReason
 	// (when there is a single ID which can be described).
 	ID string `json:"id,omitempty" yaml:"id,omitempty"`
-	// The kind attribute of the resource associated with the status ReasonType.
+	// The kind attribute of the resource associated with the status StatusReason.
 	// On some operations may differ from the requested resource Kind.
 	Kind string `json:"kind,omitempty" yaml:"kind,omitempty"`
+	// The Causes array includes more details associated with the StatusReason
+	// failure. Not all StatusReasons may provide detailed causes.
+	Causes []StatusCause `json:"causes,omitempty" yaml:"causes,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Values of Status.Status
@@ -404,19 +407,19 @@ const (
 	StatusWorking = "working"
 )
 
-// ReasonType is an enumeration of possible failure causes.  Each ReasonType
+// StatusReason is an enumeration of possible failure causes.  Each StatusReason
 // must map to a single HTTP status code, but multiple reasons may map
 // to the same HTTP status code.
 // TODO: move to apiserver
-type ReasonType string
+type StatusReason string
 
 const (
-	// ReasonTypeUnknown means the server has declined to indicate a specific reason.
+	// StatusReasonUnknown means the server has declined to indicate a specific reason.
 	// The details field may contain other information about this error.
 	// Status code 500.
-	ReasonTypeUnknown ReasonType = ""
+	StatusReasonUnknown StatusReason = ""
 
-	// ReasonTypeWorking means the server is processing this request and will complete
+	// StatusReasonWorking means the server is processing this request and will complete
 	// at a future time.
 	// Details (optional):
 	//   "kind" string - the name of the resource being referenced ("operation" today)
@@ -426,7 +429,7 @@ const (
 	//   "Location" - HTTP header populated with a URL that can retrieved the final
 	//                status of this operation.
 	// Status code 202
-	ReasonTypeWorking ReasonType = "working"
+	StatusReasonWorking StatusReason = "working"
 
 	// ResourceTypeNotFound means one or more resources required for this operation
 	// could not be found.
@@ -436,21 +439,65 @@ const (
 	//                   resource.
 	//   "id"   string - the identifier of the missing resource
 	// Status code 404
-	ReasonTypeNotFound ReasonType = "notFound"
+	StatusReasonNotFound StatusReason = "notFound"
 
-	// ReasonTypeAlreadyExists means the resource you are creating already exists.
+	// StatusReasonAlreadyExists means the resource you are creating already exists.
 	// Details (optional):
 	//   "kind" string - the kind attribute of the conflicting resource
 	//   "id"   string - the identifier of the conflicting resource
 	// Status code 409
-	ReasonTypeAlreadyExists ReasonType = "alreadyExists"
+	StatusReasonAlreadyExists StatusReason = "alreadyExists"
 
 	// ResourceTypeConflict means the requested update operation cannot be completed
 	// due to a conflict in the operation. The client may need to alter the request.
 	// Each resource may define custom details that indicate the nature of the
 	// conflict.
 	// Status code 409
-	ReasonTypeConflict ReasonType = "conflict"
+	StatusReasonConflict StatusReason = "conflict"
+)
+
+// StatusCause provides more information about an api.Status failure, including
+// cases when multiple errors are encountered.
+type StatusCause struct {
+	// A machine-readable description of the cause of the error. If this value is
+	// empty there is no information available.
+	Type CauseType `json:"reason,omitempty" yaml:"reason,omitempty"`
+	// A human-readable description of the cause of the error.  This field may be
+	// presented as-is to a reader.
+	Message string `json:"message,omitempty" yaml:"message,omitempty"`
+	// The field of the resource that has caused this error, as named by its JSON
+	// serialization. May include dot and postfix notation for nested attributes.
+	// Arrays are zero-indexed.  Fields may appear more than once in an array of
+	// causes due to fields having multiple errors.
+	// Optional.
+	//
+	// Examples:
+	//   "name" - the field "name" on the current resource
+	//   "items[0].name" - the field "name" on the first array entry in "items"
+	Field string `json:"field,omitempty" yaml:"field,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// CauseType is a machine readable value providing more detail about what
+// occured in a status response. An operation may have multiple causes for a
+// status (whether failure, success, or working).
+type CauseType string
+
+const (
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueNotFound is used to report failure to find a requested value
+	// (e.g. looking up an ID).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueNotFound CauseType = "fieldValueNotFound"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueInvalid is used to report required values that are not
+	// provided (e.g. empty strings, null values, or empty arrays).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueRequired CauseType = "fieldValueRequired"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueDuplicate is used to report collisions of values that must be
+	// unique (e.g. unique IDs).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueDuplicate CauseType = "fieldValueDuplicate"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueInvalid is used to report malformed values (e.g. failed regex
+	// match).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueInvalid CauseType = "fieldValueInvalid"
+	// CauseTypeFieldValueNotSupported is used to report valid (as per formatting rules)
+	// values that can not be handled (e.g. an enumerated string).
+	CauseTypeFieldValueNotSupported CauseType = "fieldValueNotSupported"
 )
 
 // ServerOp is an operation delivered to API clients.
diff --git a/pkg/api/validation.go b/pkg/api/validation.go
index 70b098ea8c..0dd02dea64 100644
--- a/pkg/api/validation.go
+++ b/pkg/api/validation.go
@@ -34,17 +34,19 @@ func validateVolumes(volumes []Volume) (util.StringSet, errs.ErrorList) {
 		el := errs.ErrorList{}
 		// TODO(thockin) enforce that a source is set once we deprecate the implied form.
 		if vol.Source != nil {
-			el = validateSource(vol.Source)
+			el = validateSource(vol.Source).Prefix("source")
 		}
-		if !util.IsDNSLabel(vol.Name) {
-			el = append(el, errs.NewInvalid("Volume.Name", vol.Name))
+		if len(vol.Name) == 0 {
+			el = append(el, errs.NewRequired("name", vol.Name))
+		} else if !util.IsDNSLabel(vol.Name) {
+			el = append(el, errs.NewInvalid("name", vol.Name))
 		} else if allNames.Has(vol.Name) {
-			el = append(el, errs.NewDuplicate("Volume.Name", vol.Name))
+			el = append(el, errs.NewDuplicate("name", vol.Name))
 		}
 		if len(el) == 0 {
 			allNames.Insert(vol.Name)
 		} else {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, el...)
+			allErrs = append(allErrs, el.PrefixIndex(i)...)
 		}
 	}
 	return allNames, allErrs
@@ -55,14 +57,14 @@ func validateSource(source *VolumeSource) errs.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 	if source.HostDirectory != nil {
 		numVolumes++
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHostDir(source.HostDirectory)...)
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateHostDir(source.HostDirectory).Prefix("hostDirectory")...)
 	}
 	if source.EmptyDirectory != nil {
 		numVolumes++
 		//EmptyDirs have nothing to validate
 	}
 	if numVolumes != 1 {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Volume.Source", source))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("", source))
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ func validateSource(source *VolumeSource) errs.ErrorList {
 func validateHostDir(hostDir *HostDirectory) errs.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 	if hostDir.Path == "" {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotFound("HostDir.Path", hostDir.Path))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotFound("path", hostDir.Path))
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -82,27 +84,31 @@ func validatePorts(ports []Port) errs.ErrorList {
 
 	allNames := util.StringSet{}
 	for i := range ports {
+		pErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 		port := &ports[i] // so we can set default values
 		if len(port.Name) > 0 {
 			if len(port.Name) > 63 || !util.IsDNSLabel(port.Name) {
-				allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Port.Name", port.Name))
+				pErrs = append(pErrs, errs.NewInvalid("name", port.Name))
 			} else if allNames.Has(port.Name) {
-				allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewDuplicate("Port.name", port.Name))
+				pErrs = append(pErrs, errs.NewDuplicate("name", port.Name))
 			} else {
 				allNames.Insert(port.Name)
 			}
 		}
-		if !util.IsValidPortNum(port.ContainerPort) {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Port.ContainerPort", port.ContainerPort))
+		if port.ContainerPort == 0 {
+			pErrs = append(pErrs, errs.NewRequired("containerPort", port.ContainerPort))
+		} else if !util.IsValidPortNum(port.ContainerPort) {
+			pErrs = append(pErrs, errs.NewInvalid("containerPort", port.ContainerPort))
 		}
 		if port.HostPort != 0 && !util.IsValidPortNum(port.HostPort) {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Port.HostPort", port.HostPort))
+			pErrs = append(pErrs, errs.NewInvalid("hostPort", port.HostPort))
 		}
 		if len(port.Protocol) == 0 {
 			port.Protocol = "TCP"
 		} else if !supportedPortProtocols.Has(strings.ToUpper(port.Protocol)) {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotSupported("Port.Protocol", port.Protocol))
+			pErrs = append(pErrs, errs.NewNotSupported("protocol", port.Protocol))
 		}
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, pErrs.PrefixIndex(i)...)
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -111,13 +117,15 @@ func validateEnv(vars []EnvVar) errs.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 
 	for i := range vars {
+		vErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 		ev := &vars[i] // so we can set default values
 		if len(ev.Name) == 0 {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("EnvVar.Name", ev.Name))
+			vErrs = append(vErrs, errs.NewRequired("name", ev.Name))
 		}
 		if !util.IsCIdentifier(ev.Name) {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("EnvVar.Name", ev.Name))
+			vErrs = append(vErrs, errs.NewInvalid("name", ev.Name))
 		}
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, vErrs.PrefixIndex(i)...)
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -126,16 +134,17 @@ func validateVolumeMounts(mounts []VolumeMount, volumes util.StringSet) errs.Err
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 
 	for i := range mounts {
+		mErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 		mnt := &mounts[i] // so we can set default values
 		if len(mnt.Name) == 0 {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("VolumeMount.Name", mnt.Name))
+			mErrs = append(mErrs, errs.NewRequired("name", mnt.Name))
 		} else if !volumes.Has(mnt.Name) {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotFound("VolumeMount.Name", mnt.Name))
+			mErrs = append(mErrs, errs.NewNotFound("name", mnt.Name))
 		}
 		if len(mnt.MountPath) == 0 {
 			// Backwards compat.
 			if len(mnt.Path) == 0 {
-				allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("VolumeMount.MountPath", mnt.MountPath))
+				mErrs = append(mErrs, errs.NewRequired("mountPath", mnt.MountPath))
 			} else {
 				glog.Warning("DEPRECATED: VolumeMount.Path has been replaced by VolumeMount.MountPath")
 				mnt.MountPath = mnt.Path
@@ -145,6 +154,7 @@ func validateVolumeMounts(mounts []VolumeMount, volumes util.StringSet) errs.Err
 		if len(mnt.MountType) != 0 {
 			glog.Warning("DEPRECATED: VolumeMount.MountType will be removed. The Volume struct will handle types")
 		}
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, mErrs.PrefixIndex(i)...)
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -155,6 +165,7 @@ func AccumulateUniquePorts(containers []Container, accumulator map[int]bool, ext
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 
 	for ci := range containers {
+		cErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 		ctr := &containers[ci]
 		for pi := range ctr.Ports {
 			port := extract(&ctr.Ports[pi])
@@ -162,11 +173,12 @@ func AccumulateUniquePorts(containers []Container, accumulator map[int]bool, ext
 				continue
 			}
 			if accumulator[port] {
-				allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewDuplicate("Port", port))
+				cErrs = append(cErrs, errs.NewDuplicate("Port", port))
 			} else {
 				accumulator[port] = true
 			}
 		}
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, cErrs.PrefixIndex(ci)...)
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -182,20 +194,24 @@ func validateContainers(containers []Container, volumes util.StringSet) errs.Err
 
 	allNames := util.StringSet{}
 	for i := range containers {
+		cErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 		ctr := &containers[i] // so we can set default values
-		if !util.IsDNSLabel(ctr.Name) {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Container.Name", ctr.Name))
+		if len(ctr.Name) == 0 {
+			cErrs = append(cErrs, errs.NewRequired("name", ctr.Name))
+		} else if !util.IsDNSLabel(ctr.Name) {
+			cErrs = append(cErrs, errs.NewInvalid("name", ctr.Name))
 		} else if allNames.Has(ctr.Name) {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewDuplicate("Container.Name", ctr.Name))
+			cErrs = append(cErrs, errs.NewDuplicate("name", ctr.Name))
 		} else {
 			allNames.Insert(ctr.Name)
 		}
 		if len(ctr.Image) == 0 {
-			allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Container.Image", ctr.Name))
+			cErrs = append(cErrs, errs.NewInvalid("image", ctr.Name))
 		}
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validatePorts(ctr.Ports)...)
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateEnv(ctr.Env)...)
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, validateVolumeMounts(ctr.VolumeMounts, volumes)...)
+		cErrs = append(cErrs, validatePorts(ctr.Ports).Prefix("ports")...)
+		cErrs = append(cErrs, validateEnv(ctr.Env).Prefix("env")...)
+		cErrs = append(cErrs, validateVolumeMounts(ctr.VolumeMounts, volumes).Prefix("volumeMounts")...)
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, cErrs.PrefixIndex(i)...)
 	}
 	// Check for colliding ports across all containers.
 	// TODO(thockin): This really is dependent on the network config of the host (IP per pod?)
@@ -217,26 +233,24 @@ func ValidateManifest(manifest *ContainerManifest) errs.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
 
 	if len(manifest.Version) == 0 {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("ContainerManifest.Version", manifest.Version))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewRequired("version", manifest.Version))
 	} else if !supportedManifestVersions.Has(strings.ToLower(manifest.Version)) {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotSupported("ContainerManifest.Version", manifest.Version))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotSupported("version", manifest.Version))
 	}
 	allVolumes, errs := validateVolumes(manifest.Volumes)
-	if len(errs) != 0 {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs...)
-	}
-	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateContainers(manifest.Containers, allVolumes)...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.Prefix("volumes")...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, validateContainers(manifest.Containers, allVolumes).Prefix("containers")...)
 	return allErrs
 }
 
 func ValidatePodState(podState *PodState) errs.ErrorList {
-	allErrs := errs.ErrorList(ValidateManifest(&podState.Manifest))
+	allErrs := errs.ErrorList(ValidateManifest(&podState.Manifest)).Prefix("manifest")
 	if podState.RestartPolicy.Type == "" {
 		podState.RestartPolicy.Type = RestartAlways
 	} else if podState.RestartPolicy.Type != RestartAlways &&
 		podState.RestartPolicy.Type != RestartOnFailure &&
 		podState.RestartPolicy.Type != RestartNever {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotSupported("PodState.RestartPolicy.Type", podState.RestartPolicy.Type))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewNotSupported("restartPolicy.type", podState.RestartPolicy.Type))
 	}
 
 	return allErrs
@@ -245,26 +259,26 @@ func ValidatePodState(podState *PodState) errs.ErrorList {
 // Pod tests if required fields in the pod are set.
 func ValidatePod(pod *Pod) errs.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
-	if pod.ID == "" {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Pod.ID", pod.ID))
+	if len(pod.ID) == 0 {
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewRequired("id", pod.ID))
 	}
-	allErrs = append(allErrs, ValidatePodState(&pod.DesiredState)...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, ValidatePodState(&pod.DesiredState).Prefix("desiredState")...)
 	return allErrs
 }
 
 // ValidateService tests if required fields in the service are set.
 func ValidateService(service *Service) errs.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
-	if service.ID == "" {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Service.ID", service.ID))
+	if len(service.ID) == 0 {
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewRequired("id", service.ID))
 	} else if !util.IsDNS952Label(service.ID) {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Service.ID", service.ID))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("id", service.ID))
 	}
 	if !util.IsValidPortNum(service.Port) {
 		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Service.Port", service.Port))
 	}
 	if labels.Set(service.Selector).AsSelector().Empty() {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("Service.Selector", service.Selector))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewRequired("selector", service.Selector))
 	}
 	return allErrs
 }
@@ -272,20 +286,20 @@ func ValidateService(service *Service) errs.ErrorList {
 // ValidateReplicationController tests if required fields in the replication controller are set.
 func ValidateReplicationController(controller *ReplicationController) errs.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := errs.ErrorList{}
-	if controller.ID == "" {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("ReplicationController.ID", controller.ID))
+	if len(controller.ID) == 0 {
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewRequired("id", controller.ID))
 	}
 	if labels.Set(controller.DesiredState.ReplicaSelector).AsSelector().Empty() {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("ReplicationController.ReplicaSelector", controller.DesiredState.ReplicaSelector))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewRequired("desiredState.replicaSelector", controller.DesiredState.ReplicaSelector))
 	}
 	selector := labels.Set(controller.DesiredState.ReplicaSelector).AsSelector()
 	labels := labels.Set(controller.DesiredState.PodTemplate.Labels)
 	if !selector.Matches(labels) {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("ReplicaController.DesiredState.PodTemplate.Labels", controller.DesiredState.PodTemplate))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("desiredState.podTemplate.labels", controller.DesiredState.PodTemplate))
 	}
 	if controller.DesiredState.Replicas < 0 {
-		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("ReplicationController.Replicas", controller.DesiredState.Replicas))
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, errs.NewInvalid("desiredState.replicas", controller.DesiredState.Replicas))
 	}
-	allErrs = append(allErrs, ValidateManifest(&controller.DesiredState.PodTemplate.DesiredState.Manifest)...)
+	allErrs = append(allErrs, ValidateManifest(&controller.DesiredState.PodTemplate.DesiredState.Manifest).Prefix("desiredState.podTemplate.desiredState.manifest")...)
 	return allErrs
 }
diff --git a/pkg/api/validation_test.go b/pkg/api/validation_test.go
index 1e52c2869c..50c9cf4fab 100644
--- a/pkg/api/validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/validation_test.go
@@ -21,10 +21,19 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api/errors"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1beta1"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/util"
 )
 
+func expectPrefix(t *testing.T, prefix string, errs errors.ErrorList) {
+	for i := range errs {
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(errs[i].(errors.ValidationError).Field, prefix) {
+			t.Errorf("expected prefix '%s' for %v", errs[i])
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestValidateVolumes(t *testing.T) {
 	successCase := []Volume{
 		{Name: "abc"},
@@ -40,15 +49,29 @@ func TestValidateVolumes(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("wrong names result: %v", names)
 	}
 
-	errorCases := map[string][]Volume{
-		"zero-length name":     {{Name: ""}},
-		"name > 63 characters": {{Name: strings.Repeat("a", 64)}},
-		"name not a DNS label": {{Name: "a.b.c"}},
-		"name not unique":      {{Name: "abc"}, {Name: "abc"}},
+	errorCases := map[string]struct {
+		V []Volume
+		T errors.ValidationErrorType
+		F string
+	}{
+		"zero-length name":     {[]Volume{{Name: ""}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeRequired, "[0].name"},
+		"name > 63 characters": {[]Volume{{Name: strings.Repeat("a", 64)}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeInvalid, "[0].name"},
+		"name not a DNS label": {[]Volume{{Name: "a.b.c"}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeInvalid, "[0].name"},
+		"name not unique":      {[]Volume{{Name: "abc"}, {Name: "abc"}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeDuplicate, "[1].name"},
 	}
 	for k, v := range errorCases {
-		if _, errs := validateVolumes(v); len(errs) == 0 {
+		_, errs := validateVolumes(v.V)
+		if len(errs) == 0 {
 			t.Errorf("expected failure for %s", k)
+			continue
+		}
+		for i := range errs {
+			if errs[i].(errors.ValidationError).Type != v.T {
+				t.Errorf("%s: expected errors to have type %s: %v", k, v.T, errs[i])
+			}
+			if errs[i].(errors.ValidationError).Field != v.F {
+				t.Errorf("%s: expected errors to have field %s: %v", k, v.F, errs[i])
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -77,22 +100,35 @@ func TestValidatePorts(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected default values: %+v", nonCanonicalCase[0])
 	}
 
-	errorCases := map[string][]Port{
-		"name > 63 characters": {{Name: strings.Repeat("a", 64), ContainerPort: 80}},
-		"name not a DNS label": {{Name: "a.b.c", ContainerPort: 80}},
-		"name not unique": {
+	errorCases := map[string]struct {
+		P []Port
+		T errors.ValidationErrorType
+		F string
+	}{
+		"name > 63 characters": {[]Port{{Name: strings.Repeat("a", 64), ContainerPort: 80}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeInvalid, "[0].name"},
+		"name not a DNS label": {[]Port{{Name: "a.b.c", ContainerPort: 80}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeInvalid, "[0].name"},
+		"name not unique": {[]Port{
 			{Name: "abc", ContainerPort: 80},
 			{Name: "abc", ContainerPort: 81},
-		},
-		"zero container port":    {{ContainerPort: 0}},
-		"invalid container port": {{ContainerPort: 65536}},
-		"invalid host port":      {{ContainerPort: 80, HostPort: 65536}},
-		"invalid protocol":       {{ContainerPort: 80, Protocol: "ICMP"}},
+		}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeDuplicate, "[1].name"},
+		"zero container port":    {[]Port{{ContainerPort: 0}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeRequired, "[0].containerPort"},
+		"invalid container port": {[]Port{{ContainerPort: 65536}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeInvalid, "[0].containerPort"},
+		"invalid host port":      {[]Port{{ContainerPort: 80, HostPort: 65536}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeInvalid, "[0].hostPort"},
+		"invalid protocol":       {[]Port{{ContainerPort: 80, Protocol: "ICMP"}}, errors.ValidationErrorTypeNotSupported, "[0].protocol"},
 	}
 	for k, v := range errorCases {
-		if errs := validatePorts(v); len(errs) == 0 {
+		errs := validatePorts(v.P)
+		if len(errs) == 0 {
 			t.Errorf("expected failure for %s", k)
 		}
+		for i := range errs {
+			if errs[i].(errors.ValidationError).Type != v.T {
+				t.Errorf("%s: expected errors to have type %s: %v", k, v.T, errs[i])
+			}
+			if errs[i].(errors.ValidationError).Field != v.F {
+				t.Errorf("%s: expected errors to have field %s: %v", k, v.F, errs[i])
+			}
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -449,8 +485,18 @@ func TestValidateReplicationController(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 	for k, v := range errorCases {
-		if errs := ValidateReplicationController(&v); len(errs) == 0 {
+		errs := ValidateReplicationController(&v)
+		if len(errs) == 0 {
 			t.Errorf("expected failure for %s", k)
 		}
+		for i := range errs {
+			field := errs[i].(errors.ValidationError).Field
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(field, "desiredState.podTemplate.") &&
+				field != "id" &&
+				field != "desiredState.replicaSelector" &&
+				field != "desiredState.replicas" {
+				t.Errorf("%s: missing prefix for: %v", k, errs[i])
+			}
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/apiserver/apiserver_test.go b/pkg/apiserver/apiserver_test.go
index 59809d1d19..6f1ca93ffe 100644
--- a/pkg/apiserver/apiserver_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apiserver/apiserver_test.go
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ func TestAsyncDelayReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
 	server := httptest.NewServer(handler)
 
 	status := expectApiStatus(t, "DELETE", fmt.Sprintf("%s/prefix/version/foo/bar", server.URL), nil, http.StatusConflict)
-	if status.Status != api.StatusFailure || status.Message == "" || status.Details == nil || status.Reason != api.ReasonTypeAlreadyExists {
+	if status.Status != api.StatusFailure || status.Message == "" || status.Details == nil || status.Reason != api.StatusReasonAlreadyExists {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected status %#v", status)
 	}
 }
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ func TestWriteJSONDecodeError(t *testing.T) {
 		writeJSON(http.StatusOK, api.Codec, &T{"Undecodable"}, w)
 	}))
 	status := expectApiStatus(t, "GET", server.URL, nil, http.StatusInternalServerError)
-	if status.Reason != api.ReasonTypeUnknown {
+	if status.Reason != api.StatusReasonUnknown {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected reason %#v", status)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(status.Message, "type apiserver.T is not registered") {
diff --git a/pkg/apiserver/errors.go b/pkg/apiserver/errors.go
index 1a20b793fe..471b34f328 100644
--- a/pkg/apiserver/errors.go
+++ b/pkg/apiserver/errors.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api/errors"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/tools"
 )
 
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ func NewNotFoundErr(kind, name string) error {
 	return &apiServerError{api.Status{
 		Status: api.StatusFailure,
 		Code:   http.StatusNotFound,
-		Reason: api.ReasonTypeNotFound,
+		Reason: api.StatusReasonNotFound,
 		Details: &api.StatusDetails{
 			Kind: kind,
 			ID:   name,
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ func NewAlreadyExistsErr(kind, name string) error {
 	return &apiServerError{api.Status{
 		Status: api.StatusFailure,
 		Code:   http.StatusConflict,
-		Reason: api.ReasonTypeAlreadyExists,
+		Reason: api.StatusReasonAlreadyExists,
 		Details: &api.StatusDetails{
 			Kind: kind,
 			ID:   name,
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ func NewConflictErr(kind, name string, err error) error {
 	return &apiServerError{api.Status{
 		Status: api.StatusFailure,
 		Code:   http.StatusConflict,
-		Reason: api.ReasonTypeConflict,
+		Reason: api.StatusReasonConflict,
 		Details: &api.StatusDetails{
 			Kind: kind,
 			ID:   name,
@@ -76,27 +77,57 @@ func NewConflictErr(kind, name string, err error) error {
 	}}
 }
 
+// NewInvalidError returns an error indicating the item is invalid and cannot be processed.
+func NewInvalidErr(kind, name string, errs errors.ErrorList) error {
+	causes := make([]api.StatusCause, 0, len(errs))
+	for i := range errs {
+		if err, ok := errs[i].(errors.ValidationError); ok {
+			causes = append(causes, api.StatusCause{
+				Type:    api.CauseType(err.Type),
+				Message: err.Error(),
+				Field:   err.Field,
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	return &apiServerError{api.Status{
+		Status: api.StatusFailure,
+		Code:   422, // RFC 4918
+		Reason: api.StatusReasonInvalid,
+		Details: &api.StatusDetails{
+			Kind:   kind,
+			ID:     name,
+			Causes: causes,
+		},
+		Message: fmt.Sprintf("%s %q is invalid: %s", kind, name, errs.ToError()),
+	}}
+}
+
 // IsNotFound returns true if the specified error was created by NewNotFoundErr
 func IsNotFound(err error) bool {
-	return reasonForError(err) == api.ReasonTypeNotFound
+	return reasonForError(err) == api.StatusReasonNotFound
 }
 
 // IsAlreadyExists determines if the err is an error which indicates that a specified resource already exists.
 func IsAlreadyExists(err error) bool {
-	return reasonForError(err) == api.ReasonTypeAlreadyExists
+	return reasonForError(err) == api.StatusReasonAlreadyExists
 }
 
 // IsConflict determines if the err is an error which indicates the provided update conflicts
 func IsConflict(err error) bool {
-	return reasonForError(err) == api.ReasonTypeConflict
+	return reasonForError(err) == api.StatusReasonConflict
 }
 
-func reasonForError(err error) api.ReasonType {
+// IsInvalid determines if the err is an error which indicates the provided resource is not valid
+func IsInvalid(err error) bool {
+	return reasonForError(err) == api.StatusReasonInvalid
+}
+
+func reasonForError(err error) api.StatusReason {
 	switch t := err.(type) {
 	case *apiServerError:
 		return t.Status.Reason
 	}
-	return api.ReasonTypeUnknown
+	return api.StatusReasonUnknown
 }
 
 // errToAPIStatus converts an error to an api.Status object.
@@ -110,14 +141,14 @@ func errToAPIStatus(err error) *api.Status {
 	default:
 		status := http.StatusInternalServerError
 		switch {
-		//TODO: replace me with NewUpdateConflictErr
+		//TODO: replace me with NewConflictErr
 		case tools.IsEtcdTestFailed(err):
 			status = http.StatusConflict
 		}
 		return &api.Status{
 			Status:  api.StatusFailure,
 			Code:    status,
-			Reason:  api.ReasonTypeUnknown,
+			Reason:  api.StatusReasonUnknown,
 			Message: err.Error(),
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/apiserver/errors_test.go b/pkg/apiserver/errors_test.go
index 295560ffc4..d887faa987 100644
--- a/pkg/apiserver/errors_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apiserver/errors_test.go
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ package apiserver
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	apierrors "github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api/errors"
 )
 
 func TestErrorNew(t *testing.T) {
@@ -33,13 +35,108 @@ func TestErrorNew(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected to not be confict")
 	}
 	if IsNotFound(err) {
-		t.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("expected to not be %s", api.ReasonTypeNotFound))
+		t.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("expected to not be %s", api.StatusReasonNotFound))
+	}
+	if IsInvalid(err) {
+		t.Errorf("expected to not be invalid")
 	}
 
 	if !IsConflict(NewConflictErr("test", "2", errors.New("message"))) {
-		t.Errorf("expected to be confict")
+		t.Errorf("expected to be conflict")
 	}
 	if !IsNotFound(NewNotFoundErr("test", "3")) {
 		t.Errorf("expected to be not found")
 	}
+	if !IsInvalid(NewInvalidErr("test", "2", nil)) {
+		t.Errorf("expected to be invalid")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewInvalidErr(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Err     apierrors.ValidationError
+		Details *api.StatusDetails
+	}{
+		{
+			apierrors.NewDuplicate("field[0].name", "bar"),
+			&api.StatusDetails{
+				Kind: "kind",
+				ID:   "name",
+				Causes: []api.StatusCause{{
+					Type:  api.CauseTypeFieldValueDuplicate,
+					Field: "field[0].name",
+				}},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			apierrors.NewInvalid("field[0].name", "bar"),
+			&api.StatusDetails{
+				Kind: "kind",
+				ID:   "name",
+				Causes: []api.StatusCause{{
+					Type:  api.CauseTypeFieldValueInvalid,
+					Field: "field[0].name",
+				}},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			apierrors.NewNotFound("field[0].name", "bar"),
+			&api.StatusDetails{
+				Kind: "kind",
+				ID:   "name",
+				Causes: []api.StatusCause{{
+					Type:  api.CauseTypeFieldValueNotFound,
+					Field: "field[0].name",
+				}},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			apierrors.NewNotSupported("field[0].name", "bar"),
+			&api.StatusDetails{
+				Kind: "kind",
+				ID:   "name",
+				Causes: []api.StatusCause{{
+					Type:  api.CauseTypeFieldValueNotSupported,
+					Field: "field[0].name",
+				}},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			apierrors.NewRequired("field[0].name", "bar"),
+			&api.StatusDetails{
+				Kind: "kind",
+				ID:   "name",
+				Causes: []api.StatusCause{{
+					Type:  api.CauseTypeFieldValueRequired,
+					Field: "field[0].name",
+				}},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for i := range testCases {
+		vErr, expected := testCases[i].Err, testCases[i].Details
+		expected.Causes[0].Message = vErr.Error()
+		err := NewInvalidErr("kind", "name", apierrors.ErrorList{vErr})
+		status := errToAPIStatus(err)
+		if status.Code != 422 || status.Reason != api.StatusReasonInvalid {
+			t.Errorf("unexpected status: %#v", status)
+		}
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(expected, status.Details) {
+			t.Errorf("expected %#v, got %#v", expected, status.Details)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func Test_errToAPIStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	err := &apiServerError{}
+	status := errToAPIStatus(err)
+	if status.Reason != api.StatusReasonUnknown || status.Status != api.StatusFailure {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected status object: %#v", status)
+	}
+}
+
+func Test_reasonForError(t *testing.T) {
+	if e, a := api.StatusReasonUnknown, reasonForError(nil); e != a {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected reason type: %#v", a)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/apiserver/operation.go b/pkg/apiserver/operation.go
index 62677c1f33..7efa08341a 100644
--- a/pkg/apiserver/operation.go
+++ b/pkg/apiserver/operation.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func (op *Operation) StatusOrResult() (description interface{}, finished bool) {
 	if op.finished == nil {
 		return &api.Status{
 			Status:  api.StatusWorking,
-			Reason:  api.ReasonTypeWorking,
+			Reason:  api.StatusReasonWorking,
 			Details: &api.StatusDetails{ID: op.ID, Kind: "operation"},
 		}, false
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/registry/controller/storage.go b/pkg/registry/controller/storage.go
index f14951977e..79835aba93 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/controller/storage.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/controller/storage.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func (rs *RegistryStorage) Create(obj interface{}) (<-chan interface{}, error) {
 	// Pod Manifest ID should be assigned by the pod API
 	controller.DesiredState.PodTemplate.DesiredState.Manifest.ID = ""
 	if errs := api.ValidateReplicationController(controller); len(errs) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Validation errors: %v", errs)
+		return nil, apiserver.NewInvalidErr("replicationController", controller.ID, errs)
 	}
 
 	controller.CreationTimestamp = util.Now()
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func (rs *RegistryStorage) Update(obj interface{}) (<-chan interface{}, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("not a replication controller: %#v", obj)
 	}
 	if errs := api.ValidateReplicationController(controller); len(errs) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Validation errors: %v", errs)
+		return nil, apiserver.NewInvalidErr("replicationController", controller.ID, errs)
 	}
 	return apiserver.MakeAsync(func() (interface{}, error) {
 		err := rs.registry.UpdateController(*controller)
diff --git a/pkg/registry/controller/storage_test.go b/pkg/registry/controller/storage_test.go
index 92c2b9eb90..d24eccb2ee 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/controller/storage_test.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/controller/storage_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/apiserver"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/labels"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/registry/registrytest"
 )
@@ -272,8 +273,8 @@ func TestControllerStorageValidatesCreate(t *testing.T) {
 		if c != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Expected nil channel")
 		}
-		if err == nil {
-			t.Errorf("Expected to get an error")
+		if !apiserver.IsInvalid(err) {
+			t.Errorf("Expected to get an invalid resource error, got %v", err)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -302,8 +303,8 @@ func TestControllerStorageValidatesUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 		if c != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Expected nil channel")
 		}
-		if err == nil {
-			t.Errorf("Expected to get an error")
+		if !apiserver.IsInvalid(err) {
+			t.Errorf("Expected to get an invalid resource error, got %v", err)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/registry/pod/storage.go b/pkg/registry/pod/storage.go
index eec4e143c2..56ad464b69 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/pod/storage.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/pod/storage.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func (rs *RegistryStorage) Create(obj interface{}) (<-chan interface{}, error) {
 	}
 	pod.DesiredState.Manifest.ID = pod.ID
 	if errs := api.ValidatePod(pod); len(errs) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Validation errors: %v", errs)
+		return nil, apiserver.NewInvalidErr("pod", pod.ID, errs)
 	}
 
 	pod.CreationTimestamp = util.Now()
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func (rs RegistryStorage) New() interface{} {
 func (rs *RegistryStorage) Update(obj interface{}) (<-chan interface{}, error) {
 	pod := obj.(*api.Pod)
 	if errs := api.ValidatePod(pod); len(errs) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Validation errors: %v", errs)
+		return nil, apiserver.NewInvalidErr("pod", pod.ID, errs)
 	}
 	return apiserver.MakeAsync(func() (interface{}, error) {
 		if err := rs.registry.UpdatePod(*pod); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/registry/pod/storage_test.go b/pkg/registry/pod/storage_test.go
index 24ad2c46e9..1ffb128045 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/pod/storage_test.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/pod/storage_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/apiserver"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/cloudprovider/fake"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/labels"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/registry/registrytest"
@@ -330,8 +331,8 @@ func TestPodStorageValidatesCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	if c != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Expected nil channel")
 	}
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Errorf("Expected to get an error")
+	if !apiserver.IsInvalid(err) {
+		t.Errorf("Expected to get an invalid resource error, got %v", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -346,8 +347,8 @@ func TestPodStorageValidatesUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	if c != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Expected nil channel")
 	}
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Errorf("Expected to get an error")
+	if !apiserver.IsInvalid(err) {
+		t.Errorf("Expected to get an invalid resource error, got %v", err)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/registry/service/storage.go b/pkg/registry/service/storage.go
index d5b4103dce..b73a17f731 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/service/storage.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/service/storage.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func NewRegistryStorage(registry Registry, cloud cloudprovider.Interface, machin
 func (rs *RegistryStorage) Create(obj interface{}) (<-chan interface{}, error) {
 	srv := obj.(*api.Service)
 	if errs := api.ValidateService(srv); len(errs) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Validation errors: %v", errs)
+		return nil, apiserver.NewInvalidErr("service", srv.ID, errs)
 	}
 
 	srv.CreationTimestamp = util.Now()
@@ -147,11 +147,8 @@ func GetServiceEnvironmentVariables(registry Registry, machine string) ([]api.En
 
 func (rs *RegistryStorage) Update(obj interface{}) (<-chan interface{}, error) {
 	srv := obj.(*api.Service)
-	if srv.ID == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ID should not be empty: %#v", srv)
-	}
 	if errs := api.ValidateService(srv); len(errs) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Validation errors: %v", errs)
+		return nil, apiserver.NewInvalidErr("service", srv.ID, errs)
 	}
 	return apiserver.MakeAsync(func() (interface{}, error) {
 		// TODO: check to see if external load balancer status changed
diff --git a/pkg/registry/service/storage_test.go b/pkg/registry/service/storage_test.go
index d7d6f59792..37243465d3 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/service/storage_test.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/service/storage_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/apiserver"
 	cloud "github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/cloudprovider/fake"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/labels"
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/pkg/registry/minion"
@@ -78,8 +79,8 @@ func TestServiceStorageValidatesCreate(t *testing.T) {
 		if c != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Expected nil channel")
 		}
-		if err == nil {
-			t.Errorf("Expected to get an error")
+		if !apiserver.IsInvalid(err) {
+			t.Errorf("Expected to get an invalid resource error, got %v", err)
 		}
 
 	}
@@ -139,8 +140,8 @@ func TestServiceStorageValidatesUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 		if c != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Expected nil channel")
 		}
-		if err == nil {
-			t.Errorf("Expected to get an error")
+		if !apiserver.IsInvalid(err) {
+			t.Errorf("Expected to get an invalid resource error, got %v", err)
 		}
 	}
 }