NHTSA Complaint #10419954 — 2011 HONDA ACCORD

I JUST PURCHASED MY NEW 2011 HONDA ACCORD EX MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR ON 8/12. I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THE CAR EXCEPT FOR TWO THINGS. THE FRONT SEATS ARE VERY HARD AND THE HEADREST IS AT A SEVERE ANGLE THAT FORCES MY HEAD FORWARD WITH MY CHIN DOWN. I NORMALLY SIT WITH MY BACK AGAINST THE BACK REST WITH THE BACK REST AT A FAIRLY UPRIGHT POSITION. IN MY OTHER CARS (1994 SATURN SL2 AND 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE), THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. WITH THE 2011 HONDA ACCORD MY NECK GETS STIFF AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT ALLOWED ON THE HEADREST AND THE ONLY RELIEF IS TO SET THE BACK REST TO A RECLINED POSITION AND SIT UPRIGHT WITH MY BACK AWAY FROM THE BACK REST. I KNOW OTHER 2011 ACCORD OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN MADE FROM HONDA. I'VE COMPLAINED TO MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. I NEED HONDA TO RESPOND BY PROVIDING A REPLACEMENT HEADREST WITH A LESS ANGLE OF INCLINE AND/OR A HEADREST THAT ALLOWS FOR ADJUSTMENT TO OTHER ANGLES. THE FRONT SEATS ARE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. DURING THE 10 MINUTE TEST DRIVE MY WIFE AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THESE SEATS. DURING A 1 HOUR TRIP WE BOTH REALIZED WE WERE VERY FATIGUED AND OUR LEGS WERE STARTING TO BECOME NUMB. ON THE RETURN 1 HOUR TRIP HOME WE FELT THE SAME SENSATIONS AND BY TIME WE RETURNED HOME WE WERE BOTH FEELING BACK AND LEG PAIN AND FATIGUE. I'VE BEEN ASSURED BY TWO SALES PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SEATS WILL 'BREAK IN' AND BECOME SOFTER AND MORE COMFORTABLE. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE OTHER NEW CARS I'VE DRIVEN OR RENTED. I'VE NEVER HEARD OTHER DRIVERS WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THEIR NEW CARS EITHER. I CANNOT BELIEVE A NEW CAR WITH MANY GREAT FEATURES AND A GREAT DRIVING EXPERIENCE CAN HAVE SUCH UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE SEATS HAVE AIRBAGS INSTALLED AND CANNOT SIMPLY BE REPLACED WITH NON-STANDARD SEATS OR WITH SEAT CUSHIONS OR COVERS. THIS CANNOT BE NORMAL AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY HONDA. *KB