Some common causes of cracking, which is one of the primary defects influencing the life of AgSnO2/Cu bimetal layered rivets, are analyzed in this paper. According to the cracking location, two kinds of cracks are found in bimetal rivets. One is formed in the AgSnO2 layer and usually originated from the interface between Ag and SnO2 particles. The other one is formed in the interface between AgSnO2 and Cu. The second one may be originated in the interface itself, or be the propagation in the interface of the cracks originating from the AgSnO2 layer. The second kind of cracks is more harmful, even though both cracks decrease the life of rivets. In order to improve the properties of AgSnO2/Cu bimetal rivets, it is important to increase the wetta-bility between Ag and SnO2 particle at elevated temperature and the bonding strength between of AgSnO2/Cu interface.