2013 Honda Accord Seats Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after parking and returning to the vehicle 30-minutes later, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of vehicle. The contact discovered a small burn mark on the center of the front passenger’s side seat. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.

The head restraints cause back pain and injury because they are so far forward. When we confronted Honda about these, they said they are required by you to make them miserable and uncomfortable. Are there any car manufacturers that have found a way around this regulation? Maybe cars manufactured before the regulation took effect? Can you reconsider that maybe this regulation is written to cause more injury than assistance and rescind it or revise it to allow manufacturers to fix YOUR problem?

BOUGHT THE HONDA ACCORD IN NOVEMBER, 2012. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000 MILES ON IT AND THE SEAT MOTOR HAS FAILED. IT MAKES NOISE. SEAT CANNOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED BY MOTOR. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED AND SAID SEAT COULD COLLAPSE DOWN AND THAT IS DANGEROUS. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR INVOLVING REPLACING ENTIRE FRONT SEAT.

THE DEGREE OF INCLINATION OF THE FRONT SEATS HEAD RESTRAINTS IS SO PRONOUNCED THAT THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER ARE FORCED TO ASSUME AN EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE POSTURE THAT CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE SPINE

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK WAS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE BACK SEAT. THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK WOULD NOT LOCK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. WITH NO SEAT BACK IN ITS UPRIGHT POSITION, IT WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. THE WELD ON THE SEAT FRAME THAT ALLOWED THE BACK TO BE LOCKED IN ITS UPRIGHT POSITION WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BROKEN SEAT FRAME. HE FRAME COST $1320 AND LABOR WAS $409.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ELEVATE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT MADE A CLICKING NOISE AND FAILED TO ELEVATE. WHENEVER THE SEAT WAS ELEVATED, IT WOULD FALL OUT OF POSITION, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO DRIVE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURES AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 08428126. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

ACCORD V6 COUPE BOUGHT NEW (AND SPOTLESS) AND NEVER IN ACCIDENT, 33,000 MILES AND 47 MONTHS OLD- CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK WAS COMPLETELY FLACCID. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS ESSENTIALLY IN THE FULL RECLINED POSITION RESTING AGAINST THE BACKSEAT. IT COULD BE MOVED UP AND DOWN EASILY TO THE TOUCH WITH ABSOLUTELY NO LOCKING MECHANISM (IE IF IT WASN'T BEING MANUALLY HELD UP IT WOULD FALL BACK). I TOOK IT INTO THE HONDA DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT "THE SEAT FRAME HAD FAILED." I CALLED HONDA TO TELL THEM AND, GIVEN THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, WILL CALL ME BACK IF THEY WILL COVER IT. AGAIN, DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME FAILED AND SEATBACK COMPLETELY FLACCID AND CAN OFFER NO BACK SUPPORT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADREST CAUSED HER NECK PAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.

THE HEAD RESTRAINT CAUSES SERIOUS NECK PAIN. THE SEAT DESIGN IS IMPROPER AND DOES NOT ALLOW FOR COMFORTABLE SEATING. MY LEGS GO NUMB WHICH CAN LEAD TO INVALID RESPONSE IN BRAKING. STIFF NECK PAIN CAN CAUSE ME TO MISS BLIND SPOTS OR HAVE REACTION TIME NECCESSARY TO AVOID DANGEROUS COLLISIONS. THESE SEATS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. MULTIPLE POSITIONS DO NOT HELP. DRIVING FOR EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME CAUSE NECK TO LEG PAIN.

THE DESIGN OF THE DRIVERS SEAT CAUSES SEVER BACK PAIN

AFTER ABOUT 2 AND A HALF HOURS OF DRIVING, MY BUTT (RIGHT SIDE) AND LEG WOULD HURT UNBEARABLY, TO THE POINT OF ME TWISTING AND TURNING TO GET COMFORTABLE. I WOULD PULL OVER AT A REST STOP, WALK AROUND FOR 10 - 15 MINS, BUT ABOUT 90MINS OF DRIVING LATER THE PAIN IS BACK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. I DONT KNOW ABOUT THE BACK SEATS AS YET. I LIKE THE CAR, BUT THIS IS TERRIBLE.

THE HEADRESTS CAUSE NEVK PAIN. THE HEADRESTS PUSH YOUR HEAD FORWARD IN AN UNNATURAL WAY ALMOST PUSHING YOUR CHIN INTO YOUR CHEST. I STARTED HAVING NECKPAIN SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING. SO INTENSE IT WENT DOWN MY ARM AND CAUSED NUMBESS IN MY FINGERS. SPENT SERVAL DAYS GOUNG TO DOCTORS AND MRIS INJECTIONS ETC. THIS SUMMER MY 13 TEAR OLD STARTED COMPLAINING. WE NOTICED WHEN SWITCHING TO MY SUMMER 35Z THE PAIN GOT BETTER AND RETURNED WHEN DRIVING THE HONDA. THE SEATS ARE ALSO PART OF THE ISSUE I NOTICED AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING HARD TO GET COMFORTABLE. MY NECK SPINE AND LOWER BACK ALL AFFECYED. I FINALLT TRADED MY VEHICLE JULY 11 OF 2015 BECAUSE I COULD NO LONGER TOLERATE THE PAIN. IM VERY DISTURBED BY THIS AND THE PAIN BECAUSE I USUALLY KEEP MY VEHICLES A LONG TIME. .. UPDATED 09/30/15*BF

I'M IN MY EARLY 20'S AND RECENTLY DEVELOPED A SEARING PAIN IN MY LOWER BACK THAT WOULD STRIKE EVEN WHEN I AM LYING MOTIONLESS. I STILL WOULDN'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHY IT WAS HURTING UNTIL ANOTHER HONDA ACCORD OWNER (2015) TOLD ME HE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE SEATS! I BOUGHT THE SACRO EASE SEAT ADAPTER FROM RELAX THE BACK ($269) AND IT FIXED MY PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. HONDA SHOULD NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THE HEALTH RISKS, REPLACE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT, AND PAY FOR SOME SORT OF THERAPY.

THE HEADREST OF THIS VEHICLE IS SO POORLY DESIGNED THAT AFTER AN HOUR OF SO OF HIGHWAY DRIVING MY NECK AND SHOULDERS BECAME STIFF AND UNCOMFORTABLE. THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REMOVE THE HEADREST. I FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, SO I REINSTALLED THE HEADREST. SHORTLY THEREAFTER MY NECK AND SHOULDER STIFFNESS RETURNED. *TR

THESE SEATS HAVE CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN THAT I NOW HAVE TO GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR FOR WEEKLY TREATMENT. THE CAR IS KILLING ME, I'M HAVING TO TAKE PAIN PILLS AND CAN'T DRIVE VERY LONG WITHOUT PAIN. IF I WOULDN'T LOOSE SO MUCH MONEY I WOULD TRADE THE CAR. *TR

THE MEMORY SEAT ADJUSTMENT HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY IN MY NEW 2013 HONDA ACCORD XL. THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF HONDA. IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A SWITCH FAILURE. THE MEMORY SEATS SIMPLY WOULD NOT ADJUST THEMSELVES TO THE DRIVER'S SETTING, IT WAS NECESSARY TO RE-ADJUST THE SEATS MANUALLY. MEMORY SEAT ADJUSTMENT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY OCT. 2014. I AM ALMOST SORRY I PURCHASED THIS CAR. WHY SHOULD I BE CHARGED FOR A REPLACEMENT SWITCH WHICH IS CLEARLY MANUFACTURER FAILURE? *TR

THE SEAT/HEADREST IS THE MAIN ISSUE. IT PUSHES MY HEAD TO FAR FORWARD AND MAKES IT VERY COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. THE LONG-TERM SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SEATS/HEADRESTS THAT MANY ARE MODIFYING/REMOVING THE HEADREST TO AVOID PAIN/DISCOMFORT WHICH WILL CREATE AN UNSAFE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. *TR

THESE COMMENTS PERTAIN TO MY FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR A CAR WITHOUT HEAD RESTRAINTS THAT FORCE MY HEAD DOWN TO AN UNCOMFORTABLE, PAINFUL POSITION. AT 5 FT 10 IN I AM JUST 1/2 INCH OVER THE AVERAGE MALE HEIGHT IN THE U.S. THIS SITUATION, AFFECTING MANY MAKES, MODELS AND YEARS, IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO DEVELOP BACK PROBLEMS, AND IN SOME CASES REMOVE OR DISABLE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. INTERNET SEARCHES SHOW HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS, AND EXAMPLES OF HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BY EITHER REMOVING OR TURNING AROUND HEAD RESTRAINTS. EVEN A DEALER SUGGESTED I DID THE LATTER, WHICH I WILL NOT DO. SINCE MANUFACTURERS ARE IGNORING THE ISSUE EXCEPT FOR TOP-OF-THE-LINE MODELS, THE NHTSA SHOULD INTERVENE TO FORCE A SOLUTION TO HELP CUSTOMERS RETAIN SAFETY FEATURES WHILE NOT INCURRING BACK INJURIES. THIS IS PART OF THE NARRATIVE I POSTED ON ONE OF MANY ON-LINE FORUMS ON THE SUBJECT: INTERESTED IN BUYING A 2013 HONDA ACCORD EX-L BUT I CAN'T STAND THE HEAD RESTRAINTS. I CAN'T DRIVE WITH MY HEAD LOOKING DOWN. I TESTED IT FOR 45 MINUTES AND ENDED UP WITH A BACK/NECK ACHE. I TRIED A 2012 ACCORD AND FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM. MY 2008 PILOT DOES NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I TRIED A NEW PILOT AND IT WAS COMFORTABLE. CLEARLY, IT MEETS SAFETY STANDARDS WITHOUT COMPROMISING DRIVER COMFORT. I FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2009. HERE'S ONE OF THOSE WEB SITES: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HONDA/ACCORD/2013/ I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. THREE TIMES THE LADY I SPOKE WITH REPEATED THE LITANY OF "SINCE 2009 ALL HONDA CARS....ETC" REFERRING TO NEW FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS. NEVER MIND THAT THE PILOT DOES NOT SACRIFICE COMFORT FOR SAFETY. HOW CAN HONDA IGNORE SUCH A PROBLEM THAT MUST BE TURNING AWAY ACCORD BUYERS? HOW CAN HONDA IGNORE IT WHEN THEY HAVE THE SOLUTION IN ANOTHER ONE OF ITS MODELS (THE PILOT)? *TR

HEAD RESTS ON SEATS ARE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE YOU NEED TO LEAN FORWARD AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING WE REMOVED THE HEAD REST, THOU IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE. *TR

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT CAUSES NECK AND BACK ISSUES. NO ADJUSTMENT SEEMS TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. TRY ADDING SEAT AND BACK CUSHION WITH NO RELIEF. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RESOLUTION OFFERED BY HONDA. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE SEATS IN MY ACCORD ARE TERRIBLE. IT PUTS YOU IN AN AWKWARD POSITION AND MAKES YOU SLUMP AS YOUR DRIVING. I HAVE HAD SEVERE NECK, LOWER BACK AND SHOULDER PAIN FROM THE DISCOMFORT. I AM FORCED TO LOSE MONEY ON THIS CAR AND TRADE IT IN BECAUSE IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO TRY TO CHANGE THE SEATS AS I DRIVE. SOME NIGHTS AFTER DRIVING I AM UNABLE TO WALK MY BACK HURTS SO BAD. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEATS! *TR

NEAR ACCIDENT AT 1300 MILES. DID YOU KNOW THE RATE OF OWNER FILED NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINTS RELATED TO SEATS/HEAD RESTRAINTS FOR THE 2012 AND 2013 ACCORD ARE OCCURRING AT A RATE 49 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE COMBINED RATE FOR ALTIMA, CAMRY, ELANTRA AND TAURUS? ALMOST ALL ACCORD COMPLAINTS INCLUDE THE SAME ELEMENTS: AWKWARD POSTURE, PRESSURE ON HEAD AND NECK, PAIN AND DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THE SEAT/HEAD RESTRAINT. HONDA TELLS OWNERS THAT ALL MANUFACTURERS GET THE SAME COMPLAINTS, AND BLAMES NHTSA FMVSS 202: BOTH ARE UNTRUE! AFOREMENTIONED 4-12-2013 COUNT SHOWS THIS IS A VERY SEVERE PROBLEM FOR ACCORDS, BUT NOT FOR ALL OTHER MANUFACTURERS. THE SEATS IN MY 2013 ACCORD ARE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PARTLY BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE NO BACKSET BETWEEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT AND MY HEAD; INSTEAD, THEY IMPOSE A PUSH OF A LEAST 13 MM. THIS CAUSES DISTRACTION WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND WITHIN TWO HOURS GENERATES SEVERE PAIN WHICH IMPAIRS MY DRIVING. DURING THE FMVSS 202 PROCESS, UMTRI SUBMITTED A RESEARCH FINDING THAT SAID A 50 MM BACKSET WOULD RESULT IN HEAD RESTRAINT INTERFERENCE FOR 13% OF THE DRIVING PUBLIC. A MAJORITY OF THE MANUFACTURERS, AMONG THEM GM, MAGNA, JOHNSON CONTROLS, AIAM, THE ALLIANCE, NISSAN, PORSCHE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND FORD, STATED THAT A BACKSET OF 50 MM MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INTRUSIONS INTO THE SPACE WHERE THESE OCCUPANTS TYPICALLY PLACE THEIR HEADS, FORCING THEIR HEADS INTO AN UNNATURAL FORWARD-TILTING POSITION. HONDA IGNORED THESE FINDINGS,IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR BAD SEAT DESIGN A 1997 CDC REPORT THAT FOUND STRONG EVIDENCE OF A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AWKWARD NECK AND SHOULDER POSTURE/ PROLONGED STATIC LOADS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS (MSD), AND ADDITIONAL RESEARCH REVEALS THE IMPACTS OF MSD, INCLUDING PAIN AND FATIGUE. THE ACCORD IS A DANGER TO ME, MY PASSENGERS, BYSTANDERS AND OTHER DRIVERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE DRIVERS SEAT CAUSES SEVERE LOWER BACK PAIN AND ALSO NECK PAIN IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. TRIED MULTIPLE SEAT ADJUSTMENTS WITHOUT SUCCESS. VERY DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE I WAS DISTRACTED WITH PREOCCUPATION WITH THE SEAT ISSUE. ALSO MY WIFE COMPLAINS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADREST CAUSES HERE SEVERE NECK PAIN AND STRAIN. *TR

HEAD RESTS ARE ANGLED TOO FAR FORWARD. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR LIKE IT WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE TURNED THE HEADREST BACKWARDS. *TR

LTR RE A SIMILAR VERSION OF A PETITION TO REVIEW THE SAFETY OF THE SEATS USED IN 2012 AND 2013 HONDA ACCORDS- THE HEAD REST AND OTHER SEAT ELEMENTS CAUSE DRIVER DISTRACTION/IMPAIRMENT (ATTACHMENT NOT IMAGED FWD TO NVS-200) *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD REST RESTRAINT CAUSED DISCOMFORT AND WAS A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER'S SEAT PUT THE CONSUMER IN AN AWKWARD POSITION AND IMPOSED A LONG DURATION STATIC LOAD ON HIS NECK AND UPPER SPINE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS DISTRACTED BY THE PUSH OF THE HEAD REST, WHICH WAS TOO FAR FORWARD. IT PUSHED HIS HEAD FORWARD FROM A NEUTRAL POSITION BY AT LEAST ONE-HALF INCH. THE UPPER SEAT WAS VERY CONCAVE AND CAUSED TENSION TO HIS UPPER SPINE. FINALLY, THE SHAPE OF THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT BACK FORCED HIM INTO A SLUMPED POSITION WHICH CAUSE LOWER BACK PAIN. WHEN THE LAST REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALER, THEY REVERSED THE HEAD RESTRAINT, WHICH APPARENTLY, WAS COMMON AND UNSAFE, A PRACTICE DEALERS USED TO RESOLVE OWNER COMPLAINTS.

I AM FINDING THE DRIVER SEAT IN MY 2013 HONDA ACCORD TO BE UNBEARABLE. I AM 5' 10" AND 160 LBS, AND DRIVE 20 MILES TO WORK, WHICH TAKES AN AVERAGE 35 MINUTES. AS MANY HAVE SAID, THE HEAD RESTS ARE PITCHED TOO FAR FORWARD, CAUSING NECK PAIN. I HAVE TRIED TURNING THE HEAD REST AROUND, BUT THIS ALLOWS TOO MUCH SPACE, AND IS MOST LIKELY VERY DANGEROUS, BUT I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE. IN ADDITION, THERE IS NO LUMBAR SUPPORT AT ALL, AND THE UPPER PART OF THE SEAT CURVES YOUR UPPER BODY FORWARD. THE RESULT IS THAT YOUR BODY IS CURVED INTO A C SHAPE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE AND PAINFUL. *TR

I HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERE BACK AND NECK ACHES DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I HAVE ADJUSTED THE SEAT IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE AND THE PROBLEM JUST SEEMS TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND PURCHASED IT NEW FROM THE DEALER. I DRIVE ABOUT 140 MILES A DAY. *TR

SOON AFTER PURCHASING MY 2013 HONDA ACCORD EX-L W/NAV, I BEGAN TO SUFFER SEVERE LOWER BACK PAIN. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST THIS SEAT INTO A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, MY LEGS AND HIPS BEGIN TO GO NUMB. FATIGUE FORMS IN MY ARMS AND AN ACUTE TIGHTNESS FORMS AT THE ABSE OF MY SPINE. THE SEATS ARE PERFORATED MATTE LEATHER AND THEY GRIP YOU AND CREATE "HOT" SPOTS THAT CAUSE CONSTANT SHIFTING IN YOUR SEAT. IT IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE, I MUST CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM FATIGUED AND IN LINGERING PAIN UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, EVEN AFTER ONLY 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO BUY THE CAR BACK FROM ME. THEY OFFERED ME APPROXIMATELY $5,500 LESS THAN I SPENT ON THE PURCHASE ONE WEEK EARLIER (WITH 400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER). I REFUSED THEIR OFFER AS I AM UNABLE TO RECOUP THAT LOSS SO I MAY PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. THEY ALSO CLAIM THEY HAD NEVER HEARD A COMPLAINT LIKE MINE. UNLIKELY, AS THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THIS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA AND MANY OTHER MANUFACTURERS OF LATE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE AS DESIGNED. HONDA NEEDS TO CHANGE THE SEATS! *TR

I BOUGHT MY HONDA ACCORD 9/11/13 AND EVEN ON THE TEST DRIVE NOTED THE UNCOMFORTABLE SEAT TO THE SALESMAN, BUT FEELING POSITIVE ABOUT HONDA'S REPUTATION AND MY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE DRIVING MY 1996 ACCORD FOR 18 YEARS, I BOUGHT THE 2013 HONDA ACCORD, THINKING THE SEATS WILL SOFTEN LIKE A PAIR OF SNEAKERS. IT HAS NOW BEEN ONLY FIVE DAYS SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY AND MY BACK PAIN HAS GOTTEN WORSE FROM THE POSITION AND HARDNESS OF BOTH SEAT AND BACK IN THIS NEW 2013 HONDA. AND NOW I HAVE HAVE READ ABOUT ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SEATING ON MY WEBSITES. I CANNOT TOLERATE THIS PAIN. *TR

NEAR MISS AT 1300 MILES. DID YOU KNOW OWNER FILED NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINTS RELATED TO SEATS/HEAD RESTRAINTS FOR THE 2012 AND 2013 ACCORD ARE OCCURRING AT A RATE 49 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE COMBINED RATE FOR ALTIMA, CAMRY, ELANTRA AND TAURUS? MOST ACCORD COMPLAINTS INCLUDE THE SAME ELEMENTS: AWKWARD POSTURE, PRESSURE ON HEAD AND NECK, PAIN AND DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THE SEAT/HEAD RESTRAINT. HONDA TELLS OWNERS THAT ALL MANUFACTURERS GET THE SAME COMPLAINTS, AND BLAMES NHTSA FMVSS 202: BOTH ARE UNTRUE! AFOREMENTIONED 4-12-2013 COMPLAINT COUNT SHOWS THIS IS A VERY SEVERE PROBLEM FOR ACCORDS, BUT NOT ALL OTHER MANUFACTURERS. THE SEATS IN MY 2013 ACCORD ARE PAINFUL PARTLY BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE NO BACKSET BETWEEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT AND MY HEAD; INSTEAD, THEY IMPOSE A PUSH OF A LEAST 13 MM. THIS YIELDS MAJOR DISTRACTION IN 30 MINUTES, SEVERE PAIN IN 2 HOURS; BOTH IMPAIR DRIVING. OTHER SEAT ERGONOMIC FEATURES EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM. DURING FMVSS 202 RM, UMTRI RESEARCH SHOWED A 50 MM BACKSET WOULD RESULT IN HEAD RESTRAINT INTERFERENCE FOR 13% OF THE DRIVING PUBLIC. THE MAJORITY OF MANUFACTURERS, INCLUDING GM, MAGNA, JOHNSON CONTROLS, AIAM, THE ALLIANCE, NISSAN, PORSCHE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND FORD, STATED THAT A BACKSET OF 50 MM MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INTRUSIONS INTO THE SPACE WHERE THESE OCCUPANTS TYPICALLY PLACE THEIR HEADS, FORCING THEIR HEADS INTO AN UNNATURAL FORWARD-TILTING POSITION. NHTSA LISTENED, ALLOWS 55 MM. HONDA IGNORED THESE FINDINGS, IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR BAD SEAT DESIGN. A 1997 CDC REPORT FOUND STRONG EVIDENCE OF A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AWKWARD NECK AND SHOULDER POSTURE/ PROLONGED STATIC LOADS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS (MSD); MORE RESEARCH REVEALS THE IMPAIRMENTS FROM MSD: PAIN AND FATIGUE. THE ACCORD IS A DANGER TO ME, MY PASSENGERS, BYSTANDERS AND OTHER DRIVERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. FORMAL PETITION SENT 9/6/13

HEAD RESTS PUSH THE HEAD TOO FAR FORWARD, CAUSING NECK PAIN WHEN SEAT BACK IS AT A NORMAL UPRIGHT, DRIVING POSITION. SEATS ARE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE IN, UNLESS THE SEAT BACK IS SIGNIFICANTLY RECLINED - WHICH POSES AN ISSUE WITH BEING ABLE TO REACH THE STEERING WHEEL AND OTHER CONTROLS EFFECTIVELY. I FIND MYSELF PULLING MYSELF FORWARD WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, SO THAT I CAN SIT UP STRAIGHT WITHOUT THE HEAD REST PUSHING MY HEAD FORWARD. I'M SURE THIS IS NOT THE SAFEST POSITION TO DRIVE IN. *JB

THE FRONT SEATS ARE SO UNCOMFORTABLE AS TO CAUSE A DISTRACTION FROM DRIVING. THE SEAT ITSELF CAUSES A PERSON TO BE BENT LIKE THE LETTER "C". THE SHOULDER BLADES AND PELVIS ARE SUPPORTED WHILE THE MIDDLE BACK HAS A GAP (NO SUPPORT) BETWEEN IT AND THE SEAT BACK. THE ONLY WAY TO CONFORM TO THE SEAT IS TO BE A HUNCHBACK. (I AM A NORMAL, SLIM (150 LB) 5'9" MALE.) TO ADD TO THE DISCOMFORT THE HEAD RESTS ARE CANTED SO FAR FORWARD SO AS TO CONTINUOUSLY FORCE THE HEAD FORWARD PUSHING THE CHIN TOWARD THE CHEST. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION TO DRIVE IN. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT MANDATES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST WOULD CAUSE SEVERE NECK AND BACK PAIN TO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEADREST WAS INSTALLED PROPERLY AND WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70. *TR

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY NEW 2013 HONDA ACCORD LX APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS AGO, THE MEMORY SEAT ADJUSTMENT HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY. THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY HONDA DEALER, AND EACH TIME IT WAS CONTRIBUTED TO MALFUNCTION OF THE INSTALLED SOFTWARE, AND EACH TIME THE PROBLEM WAS DEEMED "FIXED"...ALTHOUGH IT CONTINUES TO EXIST. THE MEMORY SEATS SIMPLY DO NOT ADJUST THEMSELVES TO THE DRIVER'S SETTING, AND EACH TIME I FIND IT NECESSARY TO READJUST THE SEATS MANUALLY TO MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE, WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING! I AM NEARLY AT THE POINT NOW AT WHICH I AM ALMOST SORRY I PURCHASED THIS CAR, AND I WISH THAT SOMEONE COULD OFFER ME A SOLUTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL! *TR

I BOUGHT A 2013 HONDA ACCORD KNOWING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE HEADREST ISSUE, BUT BRIEF TEST DRIVES PRIOR TO PURCHASE DON'T FULLY REVEAL THE EXTENT TO WHICH THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT.. AN ACURA (ALSO MADE BY HONDA) DEALER EVEN TOLD ME THAT ACURA HAD HAD THESE SAME COMPLAINTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT MODIFIED THE HEADREST DESIGN IN THE 2013 MODELS TO CORRECT THE FLAW. HONDA HAS NOT DONE THIS YET, THOUGH, IN HONDA MODELS. I TEST DROVE MANY OTHER MANUFACTURERS' CARS AND THEY COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS WITHOUT SUCH AN OBVIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM I'M 5'4" AND SIT UP STRAIGHT WHEN DRIVING, WHICH MEANS THE HEAD RESTRAINT CONTINUALLY BUMPS OR POKES THE BACK OF MY HEAD WHILE PROVIDING NO BACK SUPPORT AT ALL--WHICH IS ITSELF A SAFETY DEFECT IN A CRASH. SO IS THE FACT THAT IT PUSHES MY HEAD SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT IMPEDES GOOD VISIBILITY WHEN I TURN MY HEAD TO LOOK BACK OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER. SLUMPING CAUSES BACK, SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN, UNTENABLE ON A ROAD TRIP AND ALSO IMPEDES VISIBILITY. EARLIER MODEL HEAD-RESTRAINTS THAT DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE WON'T FIT DUE TO DIFFERENT CENTER-TO-CENTER POST MEASUREMENTS, SO THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE PARTS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING RESTRAINT (I TRIED -- EVEN WITH ONE IN MY OLDER ACURA). I HAVE READ ONLINE FORUMS IN WHICH DESPERATE HONDA DRIVERS DESCRIBE BENDING THE POSTS OR MAKING OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO RELIEVE THEIR PAIN WHILE DRIVING. THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO AND THIS COULD JEOPARDIZE THEIR SAFETY. PLEASE MAKE HONDA MODIFY THIS DESIGN. I'D GLADLY PURCHASE ANOTHER HEADREST THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE, IF THEY MAKE ONE IN 2014 (WITH THE SAME DISTANCE BETWEEN POSTS AS THE 2013 ACCORDS). OR MAKE IT A RECALL ISSUE--ENOUGH HONDA OWNERS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IT TO JUSTIFY THAT STATUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST PUSHED HER HEAD FORWARD LIMITING THE MOBILITY OF HER HEAD WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THE DESIGN OF THE HEADREST CAUSED HER SEVERE BACK AND NECK PAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. *TR

I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH SECTION TO POST MY COMPLAINT. IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE PER SE. I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NEW DESIGN OF THE HEADRESTS. I CANNOT GET COMFORTABLE IN ANY OF THE NEW CARS I HAVE SAT IN, BECAUSE I LIKE TO SIT VERY UPRIGHT, AND WHEN I POSITION MYSELF THIS WAY, MY NECK GOES FORWARD TOO MUCH. WHEN I RECLINE THE SEAT, IT HELPS MY NECK, BUT NOW MY BACK IS NOT SUPPORTED PROPERLY. SO, EITHER WAY, I AM GOING TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE WHICH MAY VERY WELL AFFECT MY DRIVING, AND THEREFORE SAFETY. I NEED TO BUY 2 CARS NOW. MY CURRENT CARS ARE OLD, 1996 AND 1999. I AM AT WITS END, BECAUSE I CANNOT FIND A COMFORTABLE SEAT IN A NEW CAR. DON'T REALLY WANT TO BUY A USED CAR. I READ OF LOT OF POSTS ON VARIOUS SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DID YOU TEST THE NEW HEADREST GUIDELINES BY USING SHORT, WOMEN DRIVERS???? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS BACK FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS OF BRANDS THAT MIGHT HAVE A MORE COMFORTABLE HEADREST THAN HONDA/ACURA? THANK YOU. *TR

DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING MY NEW HONDA ACCORD SPORT, I FIND MYSELF CONSTANTLY TRYING TO ADJUST THE SEATS TO A COMFORTABLE POSITION. I'VE CONCLUDED THAT THE HEADRESTS PUSH MY HEAD FORWARD SO MUCH THAT THE UPPER BACK IS UNABLE TO REST FIRMLY AGAINST THE CHAIR. THIS IS VERY IRRITATING CAUSING NECK AND SHOULDER STIFFNESS DURING MY 1HR COMMUTE EACH WAY. MY OLD 2005 MODEL THAT I STILL OWN IS NOT LIKE THIS. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WILL BE CAUSED BY THE DISTRACTION AND IRRITATION THIS CREATES FOR THE DRIVER. I'VE READ THAT THIS IS A GOVERNMENT REQUIRED HEADREST ANGLE. DID THEY MEASURE THE POSTURE OF 80 YEAR-OLDS TO DETERMINE THIS ANGLE? I'M IN MY 50S OF GOOD HEALTH AND POSTURE. I NOW HAVE TO TRY TO FIND SOME UPPER BACK SUPPORTS OR I MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE. I'M A DESIGNER AND KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO TEST THINGS BEFORE RELEASING DESIGNS TO THE PUBLIC. PERHAPS THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR CAUSED DUE TO CUTS IN RESEARCH FUNDING? WELL, PERHAPS YOU COULD ASK GENERAL MOTORS TO USE SOME OF THEIR SUBSIDIES TO DO A LITTLE MORE TESTING ON THIS? I'M BEING SARCASTIC OF COURSE, BUT PERHAPS HONDA IS ALSO AT FAULT IF FORD ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADJUSTABLE HEADRESTS. I'M UNHAPPY AND ALSO SUFFERING FROM A LITTLE BUYERS REMORSE. *TR

THE HEAD RESTRAINT ANGLE IS TOO FAR FORWARD; IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD PUTTING STRESS ON MY NECK. MY UPPER BACK AND SHOULDERS CANNOT CONTACT THE SEAT DUE TO THE HEAD RESTRAINT ANGLE, REGARDLESS OF THE HEIGHT OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT. IN EFFECT, MY NECK IS SUPPORTING MY UPPER BODY SINCE MY UPPER BACK AND SHOULDERS DON'T TOUCH THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN CAUSING PAIN IN MY NECK AND UPPER BACK. *TR

NO "INCIDENT" BUT WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG DISPLEASURE WITH THE NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR HEAD SEATS. I UNDERSTAND SAFETY AND THAT THE NEW ANGLE IS A GOVERNMENT RESTRICTION. I MEASURED THE ANGLE IN MY 2006 ACURA AT 25 DEGREES WHILE THE 2013 ACCORD IS 35-40 DEGREES WHEN FACTORING IN THE THORACIC/LUMBAR SUPPORT ADDED. I AM A PHYSICAL THERAPIST BY PROFESSION AND THIS TYPE OF POSTURE IS TERRIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO SIT IN. THE EAR SHOULD LINE UP WITH THE SHOULDERS FOR GOOD POSTURE, NOT BE INCHES IN FRONT OF THE THORACIC SPINE. THIS FORCES FORWARD HEAD POSTURE WHICH IS TERRIBLE FOR THE JOINTS AND MUSCLES OF THE SPINE/SHOULDERS. I HAVE HAD MANY PATIENTS COMPLAIN OF THIS IN OTHER NEWER VEHICLES AS WELL. CHRONIC NECK AND BACK PROBLEMS ARE/CAN/WILL DEVELOP. SAFETY MUST BE BALANCED WITH EVERYDAY COMFORT AND ERGONOMICS! *TR

NO INCIDENT. THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE HEADRESTS WHICH ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE AND FORCE HEADS INTO AN UNNATURAL AND UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. WE HAVE A LONG TRIP COMING UP AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT SITTING IN UNNATURAL POSITIONS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE HEADRESTS MUST COMPLY WITH NHTSA SPECS AND THERE'S NO ALLOWANCE FOR CUSTOMIZING BUT THE SAFETY ISSUE (WHIP LASH) MAY BE CANCELLED BY MUSCLE FATIGUE, DISCOMFORT (AND THUS DRIVING DISTRACTION). THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED FOR SAFETY SAKE. *TR

THE SEATS ARE HORRIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE. THE WAY THEY ARE DESIGNED, THEY MAKE YOU HUNCH OVER, WHERE YOUR SPINE IS IN THE SHAPE OF A C, INSTEAD OF HOW IT SHOULD BE. THE HEADREST PUSHES YOUR HEAD FORWARD THAT FURTHERS THE PAIN. I GOT A LUMBAR CUSHION (TO MAKE DRIVING THE CAR BEARABLE), BUT NOW THERE IS AN GAP BETWEEN MY UPPER BACK AND THE SEAT. I'VE ALSO HAD TO TURN AROUND THE HEADREST, BECAUSE IT WAS HURTING MY NECK PUSHING MY NECK SO FAR FORWARD WHEN THE REST OF ME IS SET BACK. PLEASE FIX THIS!!!!! NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PAIN WITH A NEW CAR OR ANY CAR. MAKE THE HEADRESTS ADJUSTABLE AND SEATS WITH ERGONOMIC SUPPORT STANDARD! *TR

I PURCHASED A 2013 HONDA ACCORD AFTER MY FORMER CAR WAS REAR ENDED AND I SUFFERED SEVERE WHIPLASH AND BACK PAIN. AS A RESULT OF THIS I DID NOT REALIZE THE POOR DESIGN OF THE SEAT, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE HEAD RESTS. IN MY TEST DRIVE LASTING 10 - 15 MINUTES I DID NOT NOTICE IT, BUT AFTER TWO WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP AND DRIVING THE CAR 1 HOUR EACH WAY TO AND FROM WORK, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE HEAD REST STICKS OUT SO FAR THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET COMFORTABLE IN THE CAR, AND ADDITIONALLY, IT HURT THE THORACIC PORTION OF MY MIDDLE BACK. I KNOW THIS, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I AM STILL IN PHYSICAL THERAPY, ON THE WEEKEND WHEN I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR MY BACK HURTS MUCH LESS THAN IT DOES DURING THE WEEK WHEN I MAKE MY COMMUTE TO WORK. ADDITIONALLY THIS WEEKEND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR FOR A LONG DRIVE AND SHE SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PAIN THAT I SUFFERED FROM. IT IS SO BAD, WE HAD TO CUT OUR TRIP SHORT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT BUT A REQUIREMENT BY THE US GOVERNMENT. THEREFORE I AM CONTACTING YOU CONCERNING HELP IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO HER HEIGHT, SHE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE REQUIRED POINT OF THE HEAD REST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 253.

PLEASE, PLEASE BACK OFF ON YOUR HEAD REST REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY. PLEASE ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO CHOOSE THE POSITION OF THE HEAD REST. NOT ONLY HONDA, BUT FORD, GM, CHRYSLER, ALL MANUFACTURERS ARE CREATING VERY PAINFUL CAR SEATS SINCE 2009 DUE TO THIS AWFUL HEADREST REQUIREMENT. SEATBELTS ARE A LAW, BUT I CHOOSE TO WEAR THEM. MOTORCYCLE HELMETS ARE NO LONGER A LAW, BUT I CHOOSE TO WEAR THEM. NOW LET ME CHOOSE MY HEADREST POSITION. I THINK THESE NEW DESIGNS ARE GOING TO CAUSE FAR MORE INJURIES AND INSURANCE CLAIMS FROM PEOPLE HAVING THEIR HEADS COCKED FORWARD, IN A FORCED IMPROPER POSTURE. I HAD MIGRAINES DUE TO MY HEADREST BEFORE I RESOLVED THIS ISSUE IN MY CAR BY MAKING MODIFICATIONS. I SIT WITH PROPER POSTURE AND MY HEAD IS FORCED FORWARD. THE ONLY CHOICE I HAD WAS TO SIT IMPROPERLY IN ORDER TO TRY TO AVOID THE TERRIBLE DISCOMFORT THIS NEW LAW FORCES ON ME. PLEASE CHANGE THIS LAW. *TR