In view of the frequent occurrence of abnormal wear of the pantograph/catenary system in domestic urban rail transit in recent years, this paper summarizes the abnormal wear events of the pantograph/catenary contact pairs on nearly 10 subway lines from the aspects of contact pair structural characteristics, fault phenomena, their temporal and spatial attributes, and handling measures. The main research results at home and abroad on the influence of factors such as normal load, current, and arc on the wear of pantograph-catenary system are analyzed; The research progress of the wear mechanism of the pantograph-catenary system is discussed; The research process of foreign research teams on the wear model of the pantograph catenary system is introduced. Based on the analysis results of engineering and scientific research status, a root cause analysis method for abnormal wear of the pantograph and catenary system is developed with reference to the wear model of the pantograph and catenary system; The verification and confirmation methods for the cause of abnormal wear are summarized from the perspectives of ground test, line test, simulation analysis, and data processing technology. Based on the research and analysis results and the prevention framework for abnormal wear issues, the potential exploration space for scientific and engineering issues is prospected. The research results can provide technical and management references for relevant units of urban rail transit to deal with abnormal wear events of the pantograph catenary system.