Front Suspension Control Arm problems of the 2008 Toyota Scion Xd

Purchased car used from dealership in March 2013 with 38,900 miles. Water pump replaced at 43,739. January 2015 engine replaced by dealer due to oil loss at 55,285 miles. Installed front brakes late June 2015 at 58,652. Mid July 2015 experience clunking sounds coming from driver's side upon acceleration. Clutch feels "loose. " independent mechanic installs bolt and nut on motor mount. Problem continued over weekend. Mechanic said driver's side control arm is loose and needs replacement. Took car to dealer who says new motor mount is being ordered, despite newness of engine and no evidence of cracking. They deny control arm needs replacement. Vehicle feels unsafe to drive in city or freeway.

I had been hearing clunking noise from right front wheel for a few weeks, that seemed to be getting louder over time. Most prominent during braking or hitting potholes. Father looked at wheel while I backed out of driveway and noticed wheel shifting forward/backward within the wheel well about an inch when starting and stopping. Took vehicle to local tire shop and was told bold attaching lower control arm to body had corroded and broken off. Suggested I take car to dealer for repair, and mentioned there was a TSB issued for this problem that extended the warranty to 7 years/100,000 miles. Dealer repaired vehicle at my cost ($422), since the warranty has expired (mileage). I believe this part should last the life of the vehicle. Luckily my father noticed the wheel movement or the wheel may have come off at highway speed.

While driving on any ordinary day my car began making loud noises in the front and made the car feel as though it's jerking when I brake. My husband looked under the car and said he could see a bolt that looks rusty and "the top is gone. " I took my car to the Toyota dealership and they confirmed that the #2 control arm bolt head was broken from the left front to lower sub frame. After looking for the part online my search results were mainly other scion owners who were experiencing the same thing unfortunately.

The front lower control arm on 2007-present Toyota yaris and 2008-present Scion Xd have a design flaw. The #2 bolt rusts badly on some vehicle starting from as early as 20000 miles, and some even snaps off and causes the car to lose control while driving. Toyota have issued a TSB to replace the whole control arm with a new design, yet have only extended the warranty to the #2 bolt. The arms are still rusted, and the flawed design still causes the #2 bolt to rust prematurely. This is a serious safety defect and Toyota still refuses to issue a recall.