Multistation machining process is widely applied in contemporary manufacturing environment. Modeling of variation propagation in multistation machining process is one of the most important research scenarios. Due to the existence of multiple variation streams, it is challenging to model and analyze variation propagation in a multi-station system. Current approaches to error modeling for multistation machining process are not explicit enough for error control and ensuring final product quality. In this paper, a mathematic model to depict the part dimensional variation of the complex multistation manufacturing process is formulated. A linear state space dimensional error propagation equation is established through kinematics analysis of the influence of locating parameter variations and locating datum variations on dimensional errors, so the dimensional error accumulation and transformation within the multistation process are quantitatively described. A systematic procedure to build the model is presented, which enhances the way to determine the variation sources in complex machining systems. A simple two-dimensional example is used to illustrate the proposed procedures. Finally, an industrial case of multistation machining part in a manufacturing shop is given to testify the validation and practicability of the method. The proposed analytical model is essential to quality control and improvement for multistation systems in machining quality forecasting and design optimization.