Films formed on two grades of Mn stainless steels in 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) freely exposed to air at different potentials were examined using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The Cr content of the film, which is related closely to corrosion resistance of the base alloys, was lower within the films formed on Mn stainless steels as compared to a normal type 304 (UNS S30400) stainless steels. The film also contained significant amounts of Mn, Ni, and Cu. It was proposed that the presence of higher amounts of Mn, an electrochemically active element, with Cu resulted in poor passivation behavior of the present high Mn stainless steels.