In compression coil springs subjected to cyclic load, fatigue cracks can sometimes initiate and propagate from scratch‐like small defects produced during the manufacturing process and degrade the fatigue strength. In this study, torsional and rotating bending fatigue tests were conducted to examine the fatigue behavior of a high‐strength spring steel (JIS G 3561, SWOSC‐V) in the presence of small scratches. The sensitivity of the HCF and VHCF strength to small scratches was evaluated based on the
area parameter model.