•Tensile and cross tensile responses of CFRP/Al blind riveted-bonded hybrid joints were investigated.•Original defects of the joints with two different locking modes were observed through SEM.•Joints with locking mode of RC showed better mechanical properties in both tensile and cross tensile tests.•Developed FE models could replicate the adhesive failure behaviors and identify the damaged areas. The application of riveted-bonded hybrid joints between dissimilar materials in vehicle structures has attracted increasing interest. This study aimed to investigate into the responses of blind riveted-bonded hybrid joints connecting carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and aluminum alloy (Al) subjected to tensile and cross tensile loads. Joints with two different locking modes were fabricated, and their micro topographies were observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental failure modes, force responses and mechanical properties of these joints were analyzed and compared, then numerical models were established for further exploring the failure mechanisms. The results showed that the imperfections of RC joint (CFRP placed on protruding head side) were fewer than that of RA joint (Al placed on protruding head side). RC joints showed superior mechanical properties. The energy absorption of RC joints was 14.20 % higher than that of RA joints in tensile tests. The peak force, failure displacement and energy absorption of RC joints were 21.67 %, 9.59 % and 44.48 % higher than those of RA joints in cross tensile tests, respectively. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental counterparts, with errors limited to 8 %. These numerical models can effectively replicate the failure behaviors and identify damaged areas of the specimens.