Abstract The method based on data fusion fault diagnosis is put forward and the two-step fusion diagnosis model of neural network and D-S evidence theory is given against the complexity and multiplicity when the fault of control system happens; the fault detection laboratory platform is erected based on the data fusion through the analysis of the electric actuator's principle and typical faults, and on this basis, the fault of the electric actuator is diagnosed by the experiment and computer simulation. This method overcomes the uncertainty of the neural network fault diagnosis and improves the accuracy of system diagnosis, and the experiment result verified the method's validity.