Fretting fatigue tests of carbon steel coated with titanium nitride (TiN) by PVD method were carried out to discuss the effect of ceramic coating on fretting fatigue behavior. Fretting fatigue strength of the present carbon steel significantly increased by TiN coating onto the specimen. The fretting fatigue fracture process in TiN coated steel was as follows. Fretting cracks initiate at a certain stage of fatigue life from the flaws or worn region in TiN film initiated by fretting action, and propagate until final unstable fracture occurs. The improvement of fretting fatigue strength by TiN coating resulted mainly from the retardation of fretting fatigue crack initiation due to existence of hard TiN film on the contact surface of the specimen.