This study investigates the corrosion behavior of the contact element CFRP‐aluminum under standardized corrosion conditions. Both, the corrosion of the aluminum alloy and the coupled corrosion of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) were examined. FE‐SEM analysis was performed to analyze the microscopic corrosive attack. While anodic corrosion was observed for the alloy especially close to the material transition, the cathodic corrosion of the CFRP led to fracture and buckling of the glass fibers and moreover to delamination between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix. Finally, the influence of a cathodic polarization on the transverse tensile stress resistance of the composite was tested. The observed carbon fiber/epoxy matrix debonding processes led to a significant reduction of the mechanical properties.