To explore possible substitutes for carbon supports in PEM fuel cell catalysts, both Ta and Nb co-doped TiO₂ (TaNbTiO₂) and carbon–TaNbTiO₂ (C–TaNbTiO₂) hybrid support materials are successfully synthesized by a modified thermal hydrolysis method. These materials are employed as support candidates for Pt–Pd alloy catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Among several supported catalysts, 20 wt% Pt_0.62Pd_0.38/C_75wt%–(Ta_0.01Nb_0.03Ti_0.96O₂)_25wt% is found to have an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mass activity of 260 mA mg_Pt⁻¹ and an ORR loss of 30%, which are slightly better than those of the commercially available Pt/C baseline catalyst which has a mass activity of 110 mA mg_Pt⁻¹ and an ORR loss of 40% probably because of a strong physicochemical interaction among the Pt–Pd alloy catalyst particle, carbon–TaNbTiO₂ support and carbon, as well as the stability of oxide to protect carbon from corrosion by the distribution of oxide onto carbon, respectively.