NHTSA Complaint #10508404 — 2012 HONDA ACCORD

SEATS ARE DESIGNED EXTREMELY BADLY - THEY MADE SOME CHANGE FROM PRIOR YEAR(S), AS I HAVE BEEN AN ACCORD OWNER FOR MANY YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD NECK AND BACK PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ITS SEATS BEFORE. I NOTICED THE ISSUE RIGHT AWAY AFTER DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR - YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT AT THE DEALERSHIP. IF I HAD HAD THE CAR FOR A DAY OR SO TO DRIVE, I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. ISSUES: HEADREST IS TILTED FORWARD IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAUSES NECK AND BACK PAIN. THE SEAT ITSELF IS NOT COMFORTABLE - KIND OF SLUMPED AND CUPPED IN A BAD WAY. PROMOTES PAIN AND VERY POOR POSTURE FOR SOMEONE 5'4" (ME). IF YOU REMOVE HEADREST, YOU HAVE JUST SCREWED YOURSELF OUT OF A SAFETY FEATURE. I CAN'T BELIEVE HONDA, AS A GOOD COMPANY, IS NOT RESPONDING TO PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. MY NECK AND BACK PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THIS NOW REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION, AND I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING OF SELLING THE CAR AND NEVER BUYING ANOTHER HONDA PRODUCT AGAIN, IF THEY DON'T MAKE IT RIGHT SOON. SAFETY ISSUES: (FOLLOWING CAME FROM ANOTHER COMPLAINANT, AND I AGREE WITH ALL OF IT) THE SEATS AND HEAD RESTS HAS BEEN POORLY DESIGNED. IT LOOKS THAT THESE HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR MEN HAVING A HEIGHT OF MORE THAN 6 FEET. I HAVE A STANDARD HEIGHT OF 5'-9'. WHEN I REST MY HEAD TO THE HEAD REST, IT TOUCHES ONLY LESS THAN ONE CM TO THE HEAD REST. I CAN NOT LOWER DOWN THE HEIGHT OF HEAD REST BECAUSE THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS TOO HIGH. THERE IS A BIG GAP BETWEEN NECK AND HEAD REST. THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT OF THIS DESIGN IS THAT IF A SPEEDY CAR OR TRUCK HITS MY CAR IN THE BACK, MY HEAD WILL STOP WITH HEAD REST AND BODY WILL STOP WITH BACK OF SEAT BUT NECK, HAVING NO SUPPORT BACKWARD, WILL BENT AND MAY BE BROKEN AND ULTIMATELY MAY CAUSE OF DEATH. *TR