This paper presents a fault-tolerant sensorless control strategy based on a wide-speed strong-robustness sliding mode observer (SMO) for a new five-phase fault-tolerant fractional-slot concentrated-winding interior-permanent-magnet (FTFSCW-IPM) motor, in which the motor drive system has a high reliability. The designed motor possesses a high fault-tolerant capacity. Also, the fault-tolerant space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) strategy and the sensorless control are adopted to further improve the fault tolerance of the control system. Moreover, unlike the existing SMO, the proposed SMO algorithm can achieve enhanced low system chattering, estimated accuracy at low speed, as well as strong robustness to motor parameters, fault and load disturbance. Numerical simulations and experiments with a 2-kW five-phase FTFSCW-IPM motor are carried out. The results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed fault-tolerant sensorless method adopted by the FTFSCW-IPM motor.