Vehicle components such as lower control arm are usually affected by heat during the welding process. As a result, residual stress is generated, which has much effect on mechanical performances such as crashworthiness and durability. In this study, the residual stress in lower control arm has been measured by the x-ray diffraction method and been analyzed by finite element methods. Heat transfer during seam weld process has been calculated and used in calculating thermal deformation with temperature dependent material properties. High residual stress has been found at vertical wall both by measurement and simulation. The simulation also showed the residual stress re-distribution when the component is subjected to cyclic loading condition.