In the present paper, a novel systematic method using the 2-D hybrid special finite elements containing an edge crack is employed to study the fracture behaviors of laser beam spot-welds in automotive structures. 2-D hybrid special finite elements each containing an edge crack can assure the high precision especially in the vicinity of crack tips and give a better description of its singularity with only one hybrid element surrounding one crack. Therefore, the numerical modeling of the laser beam spot-welds can be greatly simplified. Some numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the validity and versatility of the proposed method. All the lap-shear, lap-tension and angle clip specimens are analyzed and some useful fracture parameters (such as stress intensity factors, the initial direction of crack growth) are obtained simultaneously.