This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.
9.3
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$175.00
Average Mileage:
387 miles
Total Complaints:
22 complaints
Most common solutions:
- seats should be redesigned and replaced (12 reports)
- not sure (8 reports)
- block the seat restraint by pulling headrest foward and wedg (1 reports)
- custom seat cover (1 reports)
accessories - interior problem
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2012May 03
Accord XL-E 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 50 miles
I bought a 2012 Honda Accord less than 1 week ago. Within 2 days, I started to have significant lower back pain. I actually DREAD driving the car. On a hunch, I came across this website and what do you know, I found over 20 similar complaints from people who had just purchased the same car! Can't be a coincidence. I feel like something is off kilter in my spine. It is so bad, that I am going to have to do something right away. I am going to try the padding that someone mentioned earlier in this forum. I am also going back to the dealer tomorrow and do whatever it takes to get into a different car. In the meantime, DO NOT BUY THIS CAR. I will have pity on you,
2012Apr 30
Accord SE
- Automatic transmission
- 100 miles
Leased a new 2012 Accord SE. Previously had a 2008 Accord LX whos bucket seats had to be replaced. I wanted leather and chose the SE version hoping that I wouldn't run into any issues with the seats again. Test drove the car twice and even though the seat seemed overly firm and were not able to be lifted high enough, I chose to lease this car as I received a very good deal. I have driven the car for 5 days, short trips of 10 miles and am having severe back pain. I have been unable to find a good position for the seat and I continue to struggle with comfort in this vehicle. I regret my my decision 100% and would not recommend this car to anyone. All the complaints on this page bring up valid points. For me, it is my middle and lower back that is in severe pain along with my legs and hips. I have contacted the sales office today asking if there is anyting that can be done to help resolve this issue. I will do anything to get out of this car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012Apr 28
Accord EX-L 4
- Automatic transmission
- 200 miles
It really sucks to be sitting in a new car with all sorts of excellent features and that is driving well and be in so much pain and discomfort that you want to get rid of it. Honda NEEDS to fix this... it's been since 2008 and they still have done NOTHING. Obviously they're not going to (or they would have done it in between model years). I was such a Honda die-hard before this.
2012Apr 10
Accord LX 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 1,000 miles
Purchased my 2012 Honda accord lx on 12/2011. Was wearing my winter coat when test driving the car and of course throughout the winter. It's now April/2012 and wearing a shirt while driving. I can no longer take the back pain. The area in question is just above the lumbar support. It feels like something is pushing my back slightly forward above the lumbar area and causing like pressure on my nerve in my back area. I went to Super Walmart and bought a twin size bed memory foam for $29.99. I cut it out in the shape of the whole seat. I cut an extra piece for added/doubling support in the back. It seems to have helped but I can just slighlty still feel the discomfort. I still find myself trying to adjust the seat with the memory foam for a good driving position. I plan on getting some kind of elastic seatcover to hide the memory foam. But maybe I should wait before buying the seatcover and see what happens. If I can't get comfy while driving this car I'll have no choice but to sell it.
I like everything about my 2012 Honda but the driver seat. But I refuse to drive in pain.
Hey Honda, recall you front seats on the 2012 accords.
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2012Apr 01
Accord EX 4
- Automatic transmission
- 100 miles
Very uncomfortable drivers side seat. I am the commuter driver, around an hour each way, my wife does short trips around town and she has no issues. About 15 minutes into a trip my upper back gets a deep pain. I've tried adjusting the seat with no luck. I am in the market for a pillow or something to ease this pain but I've had no luck yet. I bought the car on a Saturday and took my first long trip the next day and that's when I felt the pain. I owned a 2009 ex-l that I traded in and had no issues with it. This vehicle is the 2012 ex model. I haven’t even made a payment on this car and I’m already trying to figure out how to get rid of it, sad isn’t it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012Apr 06
Accord EX V4
- Manual transmission
- 240 miles
Honda very disappointed in this 10th Honda hope this gets fixed.
2012Apr 02
Accord EX-L 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 450 miles
Myself and my husband have driven this car for less than one week and we Both already have Back and Neck pain from the poorly designed Driver and Passenger Front Seats. We commute one hour each direction to work every day and after the first day or driving one way we were both in pain. We have tried every possible combination position of the seats with and without lumbar support and no matter what, they are beyond uncomfortable. We dread having to even get in the car and cannot believe that Honda has yet to acknowledge a problem that is very obvious to so many people. Not only is the back of the seat an issue but the head rest location results in neck pain as well. We had a Toyota Camry and I am very unhappy that we didn't say with the Toyota Family as their cars are much more comfortable and reliable. Hopefully Honda will address this serious issue and retain their customers. I have never disliked a vehicle more than this one and yet it is the most money I have paid/wasted on a car. Such a Major Disappointment to buy a new car and then Hate Driving that new car because of the pain associated with being in it. HONDA...Please Replace these seats !!!
2012Mar 28
Accord EX-L 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 600 miles
This is the most uncomfortable seat ever!!I tried all possible combinations of seat adjustments!!!
I bought this 2012 new accord...drove 600 miles...oh god seat sucks!!!creates lower back pain and numb back and butt!!!
If any one find any solutions please share with me,thanks in advance!!
2012Mar 24
Accord EX 1.90 V4
- Automatic transmission
- 7 miles
The seat has a problem in the upper mid back, just above the lumbar. It feels like a bar is going across.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012Mar 22
Accord LX-S 2.4L
- Manual transmission
- 1,000 miles
These seats are horrible. I purchased the vehicle just yesterday and am so disappointed that I traded my Ford Taurus for this uncomfortable vehicle. What can I do?!!!
2012Jan 09
Accord EX 2.4L V4
- Manual transmission
- 100 miles
So I bought this lovely car, being a Honda loving gal, this makes for my THIRD Honda. I traded in my '97 Honda Accord with the Luxury type trim (leather seats, moonroof) and all that because it had some mechanical issues that just were not worth fixing at that point. I was assuming the same standard of quality as my older models I have owned but I find the seats are just TOO uncomfortable! I now visit the chiropractor twice a week for my neck and back! Driving for even just a little bit in the vehicle gives me a headache, it hurts my neck because the headrest makes my head tilt into a downward position that is very uncomfortable and provides no support. I can't drive for more than 20 minutes and my whole right leg goes numb! The part that supports my back is okay, but my neck and hips aren't doing good at all and I am pretty positive that Honda is going to reimburse me all my Chiropractor fees. I haven't even had this car for a month, but that is how significant the pain is from sitting in these seats. I can't even enjoy driving my brand new car because it is sheer torture. I understand that the headrest is a "safety feature" and can't be modified, so I found a company that is specially licensed to make modifications to vehicles- they modify it to help the handicapped. They will measure everything out from where my head needs to be and so forth and and then make a safe, but specially designed headrest for me. I also looked for replacement headrests online, but buying them online runs the risk of them being the same or not being compatible with my seat. Honestly, not too long from now I will be trading this car in for a fully loaded Ford Fusion- which costs the same as this basic model Honda Accord and has the same gas mileage but has comfy leather seats, a bad ass stereo system and Sync along with it!!!
2012Feb 25
Accord EXL 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 2 miles
Bought this car four days ago. Test drive seemed ok. After driving in the car for about and hour my back was aching from the seat. No amount of adjustment helped. I called the dealer and they said that they had never heard of the problem and there is nothing they can do.
2012Jan 04
Accord SE V4
- Automatic transmission
- 1,000 miles
I have been having severe neck and upper back pain from driving my new Honda Accord, feeling like I was in a car accident. I hate when I have to drive anywhere. I have been experimenting with pillow and different supports and have not found a solution yet that would make my drive pain free. My call to Honda headquarters was futile. They said they would pass it on and when I asked should I wait before I hear back from someone before I start complaining on line, she said I would not hear back from anyone. It is very disheartening to see the reports from so many car owners of the car and Honda has not done anything (they even claim they have not heard it before). I hate my new Honda Accord, and will probably end up getting rid of it at a loss.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2011Dec 30
Accord EX I4
- Manual transmission
- 113 miles
After driving my brand new 2012 Accord EX (manual) over the weekend, my back is killing me. I just bought the car last week and I'm not sure what to do now. There is a large bulge right in the middle of my back which is where the Active Head Restraint activator is which is causing numbness and tingling in my back many hours after driving.
I did not feel any pain on the test drive and spoke to a couple of people who said they didn't have any issue with the seat. I'm not exactly sure how that's possible.
I'm really just shocked at this. This car is in it's last year before a redesign and it looks like the issue has happened since the previous redesign in 2008!
2011Dec 30
Accord EXL I4
- Automatic transmission
- 300 miles
Very comfortable driver's seat. Above the lumbar support is something I would describe as another, larger, piece that is very firm and pushes out into your back much like a lumbar support but higher and larger. I never noticed it test driving but as soon as I put a few hundred miles on the car it was a problem. I am 35 and have never had back trouble. Now, my back hurts all the time.
2011Nov 25
Accord LX 4 Cly
- Automatic transmission
- 72 miles
I have 900 miles on this car, the first 200 was getting home after purchase add 300 the next day and my wife refuses to even get in it again. The seats are the worst of anything I have ever owned. Im sure when I will have to take a loss and trade for something we can stand to sit in. It is a shame the first Honda I ever owned and I thought it would be the best car ever but I guess the next one will be and that will be soon.
2011Nov 22
Accord LX 2.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 250 miles
I purchased this car a week ago and the seat has been extremely uncomfortable.
I owned a Honda Prelude for 16 years and had no problems with the seat comfort. I don't see how in all this time they can redesign a seat which is so uncomfortable. I am considering getting rid of this car if I cannot correct this problem. And I will
never buy a Honda again.
Update from Dec 7, 2011: I went back to the Honda dealer with my complaint about the uncomfortable seat. I tried sitting in a few other vehicles on the lot but all the seats seemed the same. They offered to trade for another type vehicle but that was not going to solve the problem. I went to the seat trim shop reccommended by the salesman. The shop added padding to the seat cushion and bolsters so it would feel more comfortable and keep the bolsters from pinching my hips which was causing me pain. It solved the problem with my hips but now it seems the lumbar support is more noticeable and a bit uncomfortable. I am considering adding padding to the reclining part of the seat. I asked the dealer if they would pay for it and they refused since it is not a warranty item. After buying a new car, you shouldn't have to pay additional money for something that Honda failed to do when designing their seats. I am still not sure I keep this car long term.
2011Oct 23
Accord SE 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 400 miles
I just bought a 2012 Accord SE and the driver's seat is beyond uncomfortable--it's causing both back pain and numbness down my right leg. I don't have any back problems and fear it will cause some serious problems. I've put 400 miles on this car. I hate to be in this position but I'm leaning toward trading it in at a several thousand dollar financial loss, thinking the hit is better than ruining my healthy back. When I called Honda to ask if there was any solution, the customer service person said the seat meets government safety standards and Honda has no plans to do anything further. Very unsatisfying. Honda, and this car, just did not turn out to be for me...very disappointing! I wish I had read all of the complaints posted online about the seat BEFORE I purchased the car. Apparently, it has been going on for several years. I've learned my car buying lesson...that a short test drive is just not adequate. It just never dawned on me that I would have any kind of trouble with a Honda. The seat in my 1996 Honda was as comfortable the day I sold it as it was 15 1/2 years earlier when I bought it--as were the seats in two other great Hondas I have owned. So much for innovation!
Shame on Honda for ignoring customer complaints.
2011Oct 10
Accord LX 2.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 35 miles
Worst ride ever! Honda dealership is the worst and Honda customer service says live with it and that there is nothing they can do. They put lumbar in seat even after telling them that was not the problem. Oops, guess the dealer didn't bother looking at my e-mail or return calls .
I think Honda is trying to avoid this situation. It is a lot like opening Pandora's box because it would require major recall for poor design. Let's get a class action together 100 people works better then 1!
Update from Mar 26, 2012: wrote Japan told me to deal with North America said they would help what a joke that was they don,t even recognize problem
2011Oct 25
Accord SE 2.4L 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 400 miles
I am so disappointed. I have owned this car a week. This car seems to be very well designed except for one thing - the seat is very uncomfortable. It is so uncomfortable that I am contemplating trading in the car. I have a hard time with this - do I just take the loss now or suffer for 10 years to amortize the purchase price. The pain is so bad I'm contemplating trading this car after only one week of ownership.
The seat must have been designed by a little Japanese man. They must have different taste than us. I'm only 5'6" and 160lbs and the seat feels very small and it is hard as a rock. This car is miserable to drive on all but the shortest trips. It is causing me back, hip, and leg pain. The lumbar support is all wrong, the side bolsters are too tight, and the cushion seens non-existant.
On a recent road trip, I noticed that every single ripple in the highway was being transmitted straight into my spine. This is really awful. It seems like a really excellent car that has the most basic design flaw - it is bad to sit in.
I did not notice this problem on my test drive. The sales person took me on a short drive with very smooth residential roads. I noticed then the seat was a little firm. I had no idea it was this bad. A had no idea until after owning it that this is a notorious problem. My suggestion to anyone considering this car is to rent one first and spend some time in it. I've talked to the dealer and they are no help at all.
Update from Nov 22, 2011: I went to a car customizing shop called A&A Royal Auto Trim in Kansas City, MO. They made a custom seat cover for me. Here is the formula: The bottom cushon has a small piece of 1 inch thick high density foam (firm) that fits in between the two bottom bolsters and goes forward to the second pleat in the leather. Then a lower density (softer) foam with a larger cut goes over the top. The back has two pieces of softer foam - one fits inbetween the two side bolsters, the one on top a little bigger. The whole aparatus is covered with black velour and has elastic straps and hooks to clip it in place. Cost was $150. It is presentable and required no permanent modification to the vehicle.
This accomplished several things - The high density foam in the bottom cushon 1. elevates me a little so the bottom bolsters don't press into my butt and thighs 2. changes the slope of the seat a little to make it more level 3. provides real shock absorbtion. The softer foam on top of that provides comfort. On the seat back, the first foam pushes me forward of the side bolsters, second is just insurance for extra comfort. The lumbar, passive head restraint, side bolsters, and head reast are all no longer an issue. The net result is pretty much removing the "sports car" qualities of the seat making it more comfortable. However, this does elevate me a bit, so it may not be a solution for tall people. The next steps will be to add sound dampening material and window tint.
Honda makes a good car, but my next car will be something more comfortable from the start such as a Cadillac even though I know the reliability and economy won't be as good.
2011Sep 01
Accord ES 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 100 miles
A very uncomfortable driver's seat. I haven't ridden in any of the other seats, but I expect the worst. The cushions are too hard, the lumbar is too prominent, and feels like a rock in your back. The bottom cushion, even with it's 10-way power seat, does not allow you to raise the back so as to tilt the seat downward. When you lift the rear of the seat mechanism (which on all of my other cars raises the back of the bottom cushion), it raises the front as well. The angle of the seat is too steep to the rear. I bought it to be a nice long distance road car, but to the store and back is about all I can take. I spent a lot of money on this car, and I am sorry I did. It's been relegated to the garage unless Honda comes up with a fix - which I don't expect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012Apr 30
Accord LX
My right leg goes numb which is very serious when driving , hello - accident! My back is in pain and my right side of my neck is always hurting or feels strained. My right foot also is now starting to suffer. I have a brand new car and HATE driving it! Please Honda replace the seats for us!
Kara R.
Carlsbad, CA, USA
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