A literature review has been carried out to identify the interactive role of the variables governing the fretting fatigue process and to examine the wide spectrum of the present testing practice. It has been shown that the present practice does not ensure an acceptable degree of uniformity and results repeatability. The issues and areas that should be addressed for future development of standardized test methods and equipment are also identified. A special emphasis is placed on the conceptual development needed for modeling the thermal mechanical aspects, of the contact problem under fretting.