<p>The present work focuses on the effect of pre-induced plastic deformation on the corrosion behavior of a quenched and self-tempered reinforcing steel having different microstructures in its cross section in a chloride-contaminated simulated concrete pore solution. Plastic deformation-induced changes in the rim and core regions of the reinforcing steel were studied using microscopic and diffraction techniques. In addition, the influence of plastic deformation on the corrosion susceptibility of the reinforcing steel in both the rim and core regions was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic polarization tests. The nature and stability of the oxide films formed in different regions on the reinforcing steel were examined to quantify the de-passivation effect of chlorides. In general, the tempered martensite portion in the rim region of the steel, especially under pre-induced plastic deformation, exhibited higher corrosion susceptibility than the core region comprising ferrite-pearlite microstructure. As compared to the unstrained specimens, the strained specimens possess higher high-angle grain boundary fraction and distorted lamellae in the microstructure, which has resulted in an aggravated corrosion tendency. The effect is more prominent in the rim region of the steel bar than its core region.</p>