For fault detection of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), in this paper, a method of sliding mode observer (SMO) based on a new reaching law (NRL) is proposed. The SMO based on the NRL (NRL-SMO) theoretically eliminates system chatter caused by the reaching law and can be switched in time with system interference in terms of robustness and smoothness. In addition, the sliding mode control law is used as the index of fault detection. Firstly, this paper gives the NRL with the theoretically analyzes. Secondly, according to the mathematical model of DFIG, NRL-SMO is designed, and its analysis of stability and robustness are carried out. Then this paper describes how to choose the optimal parameters of the NRL-SMO. Finally, three common wind turbine system faults are given, which are DFIG inter-turn stator fault, grid voltage drop fault, and rotor current sensor fault. The simulation models of the DFIG under different faults is established. The simulation results prove that the superiority of the method of NRL-SMO in state tracking and the feasibility of fault detection.