Disclosed herein are a secondary battery transfer apparatus for transferring a secondary battery in a secondary battery manufacturing process and a method for detecting a loading defect of a secondary battery in a carrier receiving the secondary battery. The secondary battery transfer apparatus includes a carrier having a receipt space to receive a secondary battery, a transfer unit transferring the carrier, a loading detection sensor sensing the secondary battery when the secondary battery inserted into the carrier reaches a designated height, and a controller receiving a result of sensing of the loading detection sensor and controlling operation of the transfer unit. The secondary battery transfer apparatus and the detection method detect whether or not a case of the secondary battery is damaged due to friction with the carrier and thus recognize a product defect in advance.