2012 Honda Accord

THERE SEEMS TO BE A FLAW IN THE 2012 HONDA ACCORD FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS THAT MAKES THEM SO UNCOMFORTABLE THAT IT IS ACTUALLY PAINFUL. WHILE THIS MAY SEEM TO JUST BE A SUPERFICIAL MATTER, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SERIOUS BECAUSE THE DISCOMFORT IS SO BAD THAT, WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER HAS TO SHIFT IN THE SEAT FREQUENTLY TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE THE DISCOMFORT. THIS CREATES A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. MOREOVER, AFTER DRIVING, THE PAIN IN MY RIGHT LEG AND BOTTOM IS SO BAD THAT IT CAN LAST FOR HOURS, IF NOT DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SEATS ARE CAUSING PERMANENT NERVE OR MUSCLE DAMAGE. THE INJURY MAY NOT BE VISIBLE, BUT SOMETHING BAD IS HAPPENING. THE PAIN SEEMS TO BE CUMULATIVE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE THE LONGER THAT I DRIVE THIS CAR. I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I WENT ON-LINE AND DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED ON SEVERAL WEBSITES. ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 I BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO MY HONDA DEALER WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. THEY SAID THAT NO SEAT DEFECTS WERE FOUND WHEN COMPARED TO THE SEATS IN ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MODEL. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, IN JUNE 2014, I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA HEADQUARTERS WHO ARRANGED TO HAVE THE CAR SEATS EXAMINED. ONCE AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEREFORE, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I DON'T SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT; I AM STATING THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SEATS. WITH THE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ON-LINE, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE THAT HONDA IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE HONDA DOESN'T SEEM INCLINED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA GET INVOLVED AND HAVE HONDA CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

SEAT DESIGN DOES NOT PROVIDE COMFORT AND COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SHIFT YOUR BODY SO THAT THE SEAMS ON THE SEAT DO NOT PINCH YOUR SCIATICA NERVE...IT CAUSES NUMBNESS IN YOUR LEG WHICH COULD IMPACT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. ALSO, BACK OF SEAT DESIGN CAUSES PAIN FOR PEOPLE WITH BACK ISSUES (HERNIATED DISCS). *TR

MY MAIN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE IS THE SEATING, SPECIFICALLY THE DRIVERS SEAT. I CAN HONESTLY SAY ITS THE WORST SEATING I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN A VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY SURPRISING, ESPECIALLY SINCE IM TALKING ABOUT A 2012 HONDA ACCORD! WHILE THE SEAT IS RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE IN SHORT TRIPS, ANY LONGER TRIPS (GREATER THAN 30 MINUTES) PLAYS HAVOC ON MY BODY. IM A MALE OF AVERAGE HEIGHT (5 FOOT 10 INCHES) AND WEIGHT (170 LBS) A LONG TRIP IN THIS VEHICLE CAUSES SORENESS IN MY LOWER BACK, NECK AND NUMBNESS IN MY LEGS. I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SEVERAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS SEAT TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS. MY WIFE ALSO HAS SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE SEATING AND THE EFFECT ON HER BODY. IN DEFENSE OF HONDA, I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THEIR ATTENTION. HOWEVER, AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB CONCERNING THIS SEATING ISSUE AND HONDAS RESPONSE TO THEIR COMPLAINTS, MY ATTEMPT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PROBLEM TO HONDA WOULD MOST CERTAINLY FALL ON DEAF EARS. I HAVE READ "HOME REMEDIES" FOR MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO THE SEAT TO INCREASE COMFORT BUT SHOULD I HAVE TO RESORT TO SUCH MAINTENANCE? NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE SEATING IN THIS CAR SHORT OF REPLACING THE SEAT. *TR

A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THIS VECHILE, I NOTICED BACK PAIN. EVERY TIEM I GOT INTO THE CAR, I TRIED TO REPOSTION THE SEATS TO GET COMFORTABLE. HOWEVER, I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL EVERY TIME. I TRIED EVEN ADDING A PAD BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY BACK AND BEHIND TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE. ALL I FIND MYSELF DOING IS MOVING AND REPOSITIONING AT STOP LIGHTS OR RED LIGHTS ON MY HOUR DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. I AM NEVER COMFORTABLE IN THE CAR. MY HEEAD ALWAYS FEELINGS LIKE ITS BEING PUSHED FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE HEAD REST AND MY LOWER BACK FEELS LIKE I AM SITTING IN LOWER THAN THE REST OF ME. I HAVE GONE TO MY DOCTOR NUMEROUS TIMES WITH BACK PAINS AND NECK PAINS. I KNOW HAVE TO CONSTANTLY SLEEP WITH A HEATING PAD TO RELIEVE THE SORENESS FROM THIS CAR. EVERY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED I FEEL SAFE AND EXPERIENCE NO PROBLEMS, EXCEPT THIS ONE. *TR

1). "ACCELERATION" - MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE MOST OF THE TIME AND SHE HAS COMPLAINED TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS HESITANT IN ITS ACCELERATION SPEED (0MPH AT A STOP, UP TO 55-60 MPH GETTING ONTO HIGHWAYS).FOR AN EXAMPLE: SHE HAS ADVISED,ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN AS SHE GOES ON THE "HIGHWAY" INTO MERGING TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE UP TO PROPER SPEED TO GET ON HIGHWAY TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC . SHE STATED PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR, THEN A COUPLE OF SECONDS, THE CAR WILL PICK UP SPEED. ALSO, WHEN AT A "STOP SIGN" ONCE SHE PRESSES GAS PEDAL TO GO,THE CAR HESITATES TO TAKE OFF AND THEN IT GOES. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE HONDA WARRANTY DEPARTMENT IN FEB/MARCH 2013, WAS TOLD "TAKE VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER". WE DID AND MECHANIC ADVISED-COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. TO DATE AS OF (4/20/2013 MY DAUGHTER STILL EXPERIENCES THIS HESITANT ACCELERATION PROBLEM. ITS NOT RIGHT AND I AM PAYING $560+ DOLLARS A MONTH FOR A NEW VEHICLE WITH THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN I HAVE FOR HER, DRIVING THIS CAR. I SAW A TV COMMERCIAL ABOUT A RECALL ON HONDA ACCORDS AND I WAS QUITE SURPRISED THAT WHEN I LOGGED ONTO THE NHTSA WEBSITE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THERE 2012 HONDA ACCORDS AS WE ARE EXPERIENCING. 2)."HEADREST" -WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY TRIP-OCTOBER 2012, I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT PROPERLY REST MY HEAD ON THE "DRIVERS SEAT HEADREST. I AM 5FT-5 &1/2 INCHES TALL. I TRIED TO ADJUST THE DRIVER'S HEADREST UP AND DOWN, BUT I COULD NOT PLACE IT IN A COMFORTABLE POSITION TO HELP SUPPORT MY HEAD AND NECK. IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND I COULD NOT PROPERLY FIT MY HEAD ON THE REST FOR EASE OF DRIVING, ESPECIALLY FOR SUPPORT OF MY NECK. IT WAS EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND STRESSFUL ON MY NECK AS I HAVE ALREADY HAD PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS WITH THIS PART OF MY BODY. *TR

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

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. I HAVE MADE A ROUGH SKETCH OF THIS SITUATION BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SEND IT TO YOU. 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. I FAXED IT IN DETAILS TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, TORRANCE, CA90501 ON 12/3/12 WITH SKETCH AND FAXED THREE TIMES EVERY WEEK. I ALSO ADVISED THEM TO MAKE AN EXPERIMENT: HAVE A DUMMY OF MAN MADE OF BROKEN GLASS, SEAT IT IN THE CAR, BUCKLE UP AND HIT THE CAR FORCIBLY IN THE BACK, THE NECK OF DUMMY WILL BE BROKEN. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR WAS GARAGED FOR THE LAST MORE THAN ONE MONTH AT 8024 MILES ODOMETER READING, TAKE THIS FAULTY CAR BACK AND RETURN MY MONEY. AFTER MORE THAN 40 DAYS, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT MY CLAIM WAS REJECTED AS THE CAR WAS NOT FOUND FAULTY. I REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE CHECK THIS FAULT AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION AT YOUR END. I AM READY TO HAND OVER THE CAR TO YOU. I AM NOT USING THIS CAR ANY MORE. *TR

ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY HONDA ACCORD COUPE, I HAD HORRIBLE BACK PAIN. I COULD BARLEY WALK WITHOUT HELP. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND WAS PRESCRIBED MUSCLE RELAXANT AND IBUPROFEN. MY BACK HAS NOT STOPPED HURTING. I COMMUTE 45 MINS EACH WAY TO WORK 5 DAYS A WEEK. I THOUGHT BACK TO WHEN MY BACK PAIN BEGAN AND THE ACCORD WAS THE ONLY CHANGE THAT I MADE. I DECIDED TO GOOGLE TO FIND OUT IF ANY OTHER 2012 HONDA ACCORD OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING BACK PAIN PROBLEMS AND TO MY SURPRISE A NUMBER OF OWNERS ARE. I WILL CONTACT HONDA TO SEE IF THEY WILL RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT FROM WHAT I READ FROM OTHER CONSUMERS HONDA WILL NOT DO ANYTHIN. *TR