The poor machining characteristics of super duplex stainless steels (SDSS) affect the surface integrity as it induces tensile residual stress in the parts. When this machined part is exposed to hostile chloride conditions, it results in the stress corrosion crack (SCC) formation, thereby impacting their service life. To understand the cracking phenomenon involved, it is important to study the distinct characteristics of cracks formed in compliance with the machining (turning) process. This study focusses on studying the effects of machined surface integrity on the stress corrosion cracking of SDSS. Following machining, the specimens were subjected to SCC examination in the chloride condition at different immersion time of 1 h, 2 h, and 5 h. The testing was done in pursuant with ASTM G36 standard. The result indicated that major cracks generated along both parallel as well as the perpendicular direction of machining marks due to the high magnitude of biaxial tensile residual stress. With the increase in immersion time (5 h), new forms of crack and localized corrosion were noticed on the surface. At 1 h and 2 h, only the major cracks were evident, along with minor pit formation on the surface. But at 5 h, selective attack/selective leaching occurred on the turned surface along with the formation of network of cracks. Analysis of the transition pit/crack behaviour of revealed that different pits merge to form a detrimental crack with more intensity than the major cracks. The crack density continue to grow with immersion time of 5 h and also there is no evidence was observed on reduction of crack density. However, the quantification of crack density was not possible at 5 h due to the complex network of high density crack formation. The microstructure analysis revealed that the ferrite phase was more vulnerable to SCC than the austenite phase in chloride environment. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd