<p>Ground fissure, as a common geo-hazard, impairs the integrity of the site soil and affects the seismic performance of engineering structures. In this paper, a finite element (FE) model for subway stations in a ground fissure area was developed and validated by using experimental results. Numerical analyses were conducted to investigate the seismic response and failure mode of subway stations in a ground fissure area with different locations. Effects of ground fissure on deformations and internal forces of a station, soil pressures and soil plastic strains were discussed. The results showed that the seismic response of the station was significantly amplified by the ground fissure, and stations in the ground fissure area displayed obvious rocking deformation during earthquakes as compared to those in the area without fissures. It also was found that the soil yielding around the station, the dislocation occurring in the ground fissure area, and the dynamic amplification effect were more significant under vertical ground motion, which weakened the station’s ductility and accelerated its destruction process.</p>