Increasing　application　of　shape-cast　aluminum　components　in　automotive　and　aerospace　industries　has　drawn　great　interest　in　fatigue　properties　of　aluminum　castings.　To　improve　the　fatigue　properties　of　aluminum　castings　and　especially　to　increase　the　reliability　and　wider　use　of　aluminum　castings　in　fracture-critical　applications,　a　better　understanding　of　fatigue　behavior　and　life　prediction　is　absolutely　necessary.　This　paper　reviews　the　fatigue　crack　initiation,　crack　propagation,　and　life　prediction　considering　the　effect　of　short　cracks.　Fatigue　properties　of　cast　aluminum　components　are　dominated　by　the　defect　size.　The　behavior　of　short　fatigue　crack　differs　from　that　of　long　crack　mainly　in　near　threshold　crack　growth　regime　and　plays　an　important　role　in　fatigue　life　prediction.　Some　suggestions　for　further　work　are　also　discussed.