The consensus tracking problem of multiple nonholonomic high-order chained-form systems is considered in this paper. A finite-time observer-based distributed control strategy is proposed. At the first step, a distributed finite-time convergent observer is proposed for each agent to estimate the leader's state in a finite time. Then, a finite-time tracking controller is designed to track the estimated state and the leader's attitude in a finite time. As an application of the proposed results, finite-time formation control of multiple wheeled mobile robots is studied and a finite-time formation control algorithm is proposed. To show effectiveness of the proposed approach, a simulation example is given. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.