This article investigates the issue of finite‐time tracking control for uncertain robotic manipulator systems with unknown actuator faults and shifting loads based upon a fuzzy sliding mode control strategy. A novel fuzzy adaptive sliding mode fault‐tolerant control law is synthesized, where a fuzzy approximation algorithm is utilized to fit the unknown plant parameters, potential disturbances, and relational actuator faults, and the corresponding adaptive robust term is designed to estimate the unidentified boundary of the estimated errors, and the boundedness of all the relevant design parameters of the manipulator systems is ensured combining with the average dwell time mechanism of switched system control theory. Furthermore, the reachability of the pre‐devised sliding surface and the finite‐time convergence of tracking error are achieved under the presented controller design. Ultimately, simulation results exhibit the feasibility and superiority of the proposed algorithm.