To investigate the role of intermetallic particles in the localised corrosion of AA7075‐T6, three particles were monitored over 16 h immersion in 3.5 wt% KCl solution. These were examined using Auger electron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy and focused ion beam‐scanning electron microscopy. Despite similar Volta potential measurements, the corrosion microchemistry varied significantly with composition. A Al7Cu2Fe intermetallic resulted in trenching while a (Al,Cu)6(Fe,Cu) intermetallic showed crevice corrosion and sub‐surface intergranular corrosion and a Al12Fe3Si intermetallic appeared to be galvanically inactive but showed crevice formation at the matrix interface and sub‐surface intergranular corrosion.