This article investigates a class of Duffing nonlinear dynamic systems with fractional‐order dry friction and conducts in‐depth research on the stability, chaotic characteristics, and erosion of the safety basin of this system; the results are verified through numerical simulation. First, the average method is used to approximate the amplitude–frequency relationship of the system, and the accuracy of the analytical results is verified through numerical experiments. Second, the Melnikov method is used to obtain the conditions for the system to enter chaos in the Smale horseshoe sense, and the Melnikov curve is drawn for further verification. Then, bifurcation diagrams are drawn for the changes in various parameters in the system, with a focus on analyzing the influence of friction factors on chaotic bifurcation. By applying the definition and calculation principle of the maximum Lyapunov exponent, and drawing and utilizing the maximum Lyapunov exponent graph, the chaotic state that the system enters under different parameters is more clearly defined. Finally, the evolution law of the safety basin under various parameter changes, especially dry friction changes, is analyzed, and the erosion and bifurcation mechanism of the safety basin is studied. Comparing with the bifurcation diagram, it reveals that chaos primarily contributes to the erosion of the safety basin.