Palladium–nickel catalysts supported on carbon blacks containing similar metal contents (25 wt. %) and Pd:Ni atomic ratios (1:1 and 1:2) were synthesized. Carbon supports were chemically treated to create different oxygen and nitrogen groups on surface. X ray patterns revealed a weak alloying between Pd and Ni, whereas crystallite sizes were between 2.1 and 3.2 nm, being consistent with the values detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). CO strippings demonstrated a higher poisoning tolerance of the Pd–Ni catalysts than that observed for a Pd catalyst supported on Vulcan carbon black. The methanol oxidation on Pd–Ni catalysts suggested that presence of Ni increase the activity of the materials, considering that Pd/CB exhibited the lowest methanol oxidation current densities. Nevertheless, no effects associated to the presence of surface functional groups on carbon supports were observed in the performance of this reaction.