The damage inflicted by fault movement on tunnel engineering structures is a critical concern that warrants thorough investigation. Conducting in-depth research on the elastoplastic damage behavior of tunnel structures under fault activity is held to possess significant theoretical and practical engineering value. By utilizing ABAQUS finite element software in conjunction with laboratory-scale model testing, the influence of flexible joints and error-reducing layers (anti-error measures implemented within tunnels) on the structural error resistance performance under fault displacement was comprehensively analyzed. Furthermore, CDP (concrete damaged plasticity) model was employed to evaluate the damage characteristics of tunnel lining structures. Based on the combined results of numerical simulations and physical model tests, the optimal design parameter ranges for these error-resistant measures were determined, and their effectiveness was validated. The findings indicate that when subjected to significant fault offsets, tunnel linings equipped with flexible joints featuring a unit stiffness ratio of 0.3∶1 ≤K≤1.2∶1 demonstrate a marked reduction in structural damage severity. Additionally, an error-reducing layer with a unit stiffness ratio close to 1∶4 000 is found to achieve the most effective error-resistant performance. Under a fault displacement of 1 meter, severe structural damage is experienced by an unprotected circular tunnel within a ±20 m radius from the fault zone. Specifically, compressive failure occurs in the crown area between -20 and 0 m, while tensile failure accompanied by severe detachment, collapse, and shear misalignment is observed between 0 and 20 m. These research outcomes provide valuable insights and references for the seismic-resistant design of long tunnels in seismically active regions.