Riveting is an important connection method for carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, however, traditional riveting is highly susceptible to causing excessive interference and severe damage to CFRP joints, leading to potential quality hazards. This study experimentally investigated the damage behavior of CFRP specimens subjected to various riveting methods, including straight riveting, washer riveting, chuck bushing riveting, and washer-chuck bushing riveting. The results indicate that the average interference of straight riveted joints is the highest, substantially greater than 2%, with joints exhibiting the most severe cross-sectional damage. In contrast, joints riveted with washers show an average interference of 0.757% with virtually no damage to the joints’ cross-section. Joints riveted with chuck bushings are of an average interference of 0.956%, but the tilt of rivet head causes compressive deformation and other damages around the hole. The combination of washer and chuck bushing riveting results in an average interference of –0.915%, without forming effective interference and observing no tangible damage on the joints’ cross-section.