2009 Headrest

JimLudden · #1 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 12:59 AM

I and several others complain about the headrest position being too far forward. They touch my head when I drive. The mounts are tubes, and therefore dangerous to try to bend.
How can we get a headrest that is positioned at least 20mm farther towards the rear?

stevet47 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 01:08 AM

There is a picture somewhere on here showing some that were bent.
Can you just try reclining your seat 1 more notch?

niko3257 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 11:47 AM

New headrest?

stevet47 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko3257

New headrest?

Nice.
There is some good advise in there!
I think putting the backseat headrest on the front is worth a try.
And also, I like the idea of unzipping the upholstery and adding extra padding to the upper area of the front seatback to lift you a little further away from the headrest.

doublefit · #5 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 12:50 PM

although I understand it's worse with the 09 - some people have the problem with the 08. I've read all the threads about this and I have been unable to track it down to specific height, weights or even sex. I have no problem at all (5"5' and heavier than I should be but not seriously obese) but DD (5'4" and slender) has real difficulty, not just in the driver's seat but also the passenger seat on a long drive. It's neck pain rather than lower back pain. I tend to sit up straight with my hips pushed back into the base of the seat and the top of the headrest is just about level with the top of my head and it's perfectly comfortable. I'm going to try the sticking padding in the seat idea for her which is cheaper even than buying a cushion. At the moment she's driving with the headrest reversed and I don't much like that - we got the car for her for its safety features.

smaglik · #6 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 04:22 PM

i like the headrest. i can comfortably rest my head on it if I like. reminds me of the german cars, though their's are adjustable.

JimLudden · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2009, 11:36 PM

It occurred to me to remove the fabric cover from one headrest and carve the foam about half inch. But it will be much easier to simply add an aftermarket backrest. That will move my head position forward. On the other hand, it will also reduce legroom. (I'm 6-2.)
I'll try to find a wedge backrest that will move the shoulder position forward, then tilt the backrest back to compensate. I can try that with a bed pillow to see if it works without either spending a bunch or possibly destroying a headrest.
I think all four headrests are identical.

Steve244 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smaglik

i like the headrest. i can comfortably rest my head on it if I like. reminds me of the german cars, though their's are adjustable.

Ditto. I always thought headrests were too far back in every other car I've owned to be used as a headrest. Maybe as a head bumper in a rear end collision.

The 09 Fits me fine. (5'8" 165lbs sorry I don't know my hat size.

) I think the seats are very comfortable. I like the closeness of the headrests.

First roadtrip this coming weekend. I'll report back on comfort then.

Selden · #9 (**permalink**) 08-31-2009, 01:05 PM

I'm another fan of the forward headrests. Fore-aft adjustment would be nice, but the Fit is a cheap car. I'd also like adjustable lumbar support, bigger sun shades, a louder horn, center console, standard tinted windows, yada, yada, yada.

Sai · #10 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 04:39 AM

When I first got the Fit, I found the headrests to be a little awkward (never a nuisance, though), but now that I'm used to them, they are extremely comfortable. FYI, I'm 5'5 and just below 105lbs.

Steve244 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-07-2009, 12:52 PM

180 mile roadtrip: about 3 hours each way. The seats and headrest Fit me well: no comfort issues. It was easy to forget how small the car is until getting out and looking back at it. I might install the oem center armrest to increase comfort on long trips, but it's not mandatory.

JDMchris.com · #12 (**permalink**) 09-07-2009, 01:24 PM

Also you may look into the 08+ Accord headrests... The Fit seats are based off the Accord seats, so it may be worth a try?

polokid69 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 12:16 PM

I'm about 5'10" and everytime I get in my new FIT, if I bump the headrest it goes up a notch. It's like it won't lock from going up on locks from pushing down. Anyone else notice this ?

Krizz · #14 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polokid69

I'm about 5'10" and everytime I get in my new FIT, if I bump the headrest it goes up a notch. It's like it won't lock from going up on locks from pushing down. Anyone else notice this ?

5' 10" also, and yeah, I've noticed that the headrest seems to "mysteriously" raise itself up. Perhaps that's what has been happening, I've been bumping it and raising it up. I tend to keep it low, and it only annoys me when it is raised up.

scfonta · #15 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 01:46 PM

If I sit with my back straight and on the seat back, then the headrest pushes my chin down onto my chest. I have to lean the seat back and slouch into a "C" shape to drive the car. When I sit the way I prefer, I either have my chin on my chest (where I cannot see the road!) or my back not touching the seat, which is not comfortable. I am going to try padding the upper seat back.

I wonder if I would fit better if I had 20 pounds of fat covering my spine (I am slender). I don't think the problem has anything to do with my height (5'3").

xstraightrazorx · #16 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimLudden

I and several others complain about the headrest position being too far forward. They touch my head when I drive. The mounts are tubes, and therefore dangerous to try to bend.
How can we get a headrest that is positioned at least 20mm farther towards the rear?

try putting it on backwards.

Short Fit Driver · #17 (**permalink**) 11-19-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scfonta

If I sit with my back straight and on the seat back, then the headrest pushes my chin down onto my chest. I have to lean the seat back and slouch into a "C" shape to drive the car. When I sit the way I prefer, I either have my chin on my chest (where I cannot see the road!) or my back not touching the seat, which is not comfortable. I am going to try padding the upper seat back.

I wonder if I would fit better if I had 20 pounds of fat covering my spine (I am slender). I don't think the problem has anything to do with my height (5'3").

I am not thin and the headrest still tilts my head forward. Has anyone tried a foam wedge for the back?

Selden · #18 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 12:45 AM

The headrest is forward for a reason; the bigger the gap between the back of your head, the faster your head can accelerate before making contact. My daughter got rear-ended 2 months ago (no visible damage to the rear bumper), and even with the standard headrest design, she ended up with whiplash injury that she is still not completely healed.

Think very hard about whether you want to change this in any way.

Short Fit Driver · #19 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 09:37 AM

Dear Selden, I am a 62 year old with neck arthritis. The headrests force my head down and into my chest making it impossible to use my head neck to properly turn and watch traffic. I need back support as I drive a lot for work. I have been an ergonomist. I have never had a car accident because I turn my head and keep a close eye on traffic. The current design does not allow a gap between the head and the head rest for short people. We have to slouch forward in order to sit or angle back which is bad on our backs. A young person can sit better in these positions without pain.

The Honda new design (09/10) of headrests forces the head of smaller persons to do this - well I can't seem to get may photo to post, but they have created an unintended consequence with this design. It actually forces a short person head against the headrest tilting down, not in front of it with a gap as you say is intended. With shorter thigh and lower back measurements, one cannot sit back and reach the same way a taller person does. With some padding and readjustment it is possible for a shorter person to drive this car. My dealer is waiting for my decision. But unless I can find a safe way to drive this car on a daily basis and still be able to rotate my head I will not buy it even though I love the car in every other way. The number of complaints about this problem for short people is numerous and my dealer says they get a lot of complaints. Someone needs to get Honda's attention so they can have a safe alternative for short (older - not kids - we do have different sitting needs) persons! Those of you who are taller just don't get it. I've worked in voc rehab for 20 years and with older persons for 10. This is a major problem for safety!

Selden · #20 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 10:08 AM

People's bodies have different shapes; I am 63 years old, and have shrunk to only 5'6" and my wife is only 5'1" and neither of us has problems with the headrests, but apparently your body is different, and you do. Like shoes, gloves, or anything else, one size doesn't fit all, but why would anyone buy a car that doesn't fit his body? I ride motorcycles, and know that people's head shapes vary widely; a helmet that fits one person well may be unbearable for another -- this doesn't mean that the helmet needs to be re-designed. In your case, the Fit doesn't "fit" so you should probably look at other cars.

I would not expect Honda to respond to requests for headrest redesign for legal liability reasons. I suspect that they would have to resubmit the Fit for crash testing with the new design, which is expensive, but even if that isn't required, imagine someone who has the alternative headrests, and is rear ended, with significant whiplash injuries. Suddenly, Honda becomes a target for a lawsuit.