2009 Honda accord -- my spouses' car, so I don't get to drive regularly. My first LONG trip in this car was in 2011 (sf California to Palm Desert CA spring) I started feeling numbness/backpain approximately an hour and half into the trip (estimated about 100 mlies?). As stated previously on this board, right leg numbness was apparent as was the inability to get comfortable in the seat. Stopped at a gas station to stretch and rest -- slight lower back pain was also apparent.

My spouse previously owned a 1998 Honda Civic, and I had asked if the seats in that car were anywhere as bad on long trips. Answer: No. This car has by far the most uncomfortable seats I've ever been a driver/passenger in and that's including 70's and 80's bench seats. I have called Honda out on this issue numerous times (various dealers in the northern California area) and they turn the deaf ear/blind eye.

Absolutely ridiculous that one can pay in upwards of 28K - 30K for a car with "top of the line" leather seats and my cloth seats in my 2013 Hyundai Sonata are FAR superior. Not to mention the Lumbar motor in the drivers seat on the Honda is broken (motor sounds, but no lumbar adjustment).

If Honda keeps these antics up, I will not be back as a repeat buyer. The Accord has caused me more issues (steering column, not to mention oil consumption test --but that's for another complaint).

Buyer Beware, and do your research!

I had a 2004 Honda Accord EX which was incredibly comfortable and luxurious. Unfortunately it was wrecked so I had to buy a replacement vehicle. I chose the Honda Accord 2009. I've noticed the paint job is not nearly as good, the windshield is unable to be cleaned well, the leather not very thick, the seats are miserably uncomfortable and the headrest is so far forward that I can't drive more than 30 minutes without incredible back and neck pain. The quality of the car is not even close to the 2004 that I previously owned. HELP! It's too late for me to return it!

I owned a 1998 Accord for 13 years. It was the best car I ever owned. Naturally I bought another Honda Accord. I got an 2010 LX model. I felt like I was hunched over in the seat and there was no lumbar adjustment. I traded it in for an '09 Accord EX-L V6 with 28K miles. Good looking car but after a week, the seat became unbearable. And I can't afford another car. The seat is so bad that I literally removed the lumbar "support" just to make it bearable, but I would hardly call it comfortable. My wife's 14 year old Jeep Liberty has more comfortable seats than my Honda. The experience is so bad that I can't see myself purchasing another Honda. Between the crappy seats and the jittery steering (sometimes it is soft and other times it is like driving a truck), I feel I got cheated. Honda made good stuff a long time ago, but they have definitely slipped into a design/engineering slump.

Seat/headrest design is causing significant pain. I'm visiting a chiropractor 1/month to try to fix my neck as a result of the poor design. The headrest forces my head/shoulders forward and over time (such as my 25 mile drive to work) is forcing my neck/shoulders out of alignment.

I'm currently looking at selling the car - I bought it used over a year ago and planned on driving it for years but think I'll take the hit as my health is more valuable to me than this.

Next car will not be a Honda/Acura.

I bought my 2009 Honda Accord new. It didn't take me long to realize how uncomfortable the seats were. I looked on line and realized I wasn't alone. I had to put a thick, ugly cushion on my leather seats to make it tolerable. (It's still not the answer) When people get in my car, they remark about the cushion. I tell them I can't sit in the seat for any length of time because it makes my bottom sore. They say " you're kidden" not a Honda. With all the complaints that I read about the seats, I'm surprised that Honda chose to say they were unaware of these seat problems. My understanding is that it is not only the 2009 Accords, but from 2008 thru 2012. Honda should step up to the plate and make things right. Otherwise Honda will never see another dollar from this family and it's friends.

The new Active Headrests are very uncomfortable and has caused severe neck pain. I went to a neck/back specialist and they said my pain was due to poor posture from sitting in the seats with the head tilted forward, caused by the headrests leaning too far forward.

The NHTSA must do something to correct this while keeping safety in mind.

I appreciate the concern over whiplash however in my lifetime, I've never had whiplash however I am now going to a doctor and having to retrofit my headrest just to be able to drive comfortably.

The NTHSA has made active headrests mandatory causing most headrests (I assume most) to lean forward causing very poor posture. Now instead of whiplash, I now spend $ thousand's on physical therapy and continue trying to devise ways to retrofit my headrest without jeopardizing safety.

Until then, I will live with constant neck pain.

PLEASE MAKE A CHANGE TO THE DESIGN OF ACTIVE HEADRESTS IN "ALL" Car Types

The seats in the 2009 Accord are horrible! My back aches for several days each time my seat is adjusted or after I drive a different vehicle. Eventually, my back conforms to the seat, but it is a lengthy and painful process. It is difficult to believe that Honda does not address this issue. I thought it was just me until I did a google search.

I complained when I first got the car (November 2008) and they said that they were unaware of the any issues. I just called them again and they still say they are still not aware of any issues. How can that be when a simple Google search on 2009 Honda seat complaints returns several hits?

That blind-eye attitude has left me a little bitter. I am just now at the point where I can trade this car for a car with a more comfortable seat. Funny how I never really paid attention to the feel of car seat. I never really considered that the seats would be a show stopper. I didn't think that there could be such a bad design. Now the comfort of the driver's seat is at the very top of my list.

My seat are causing me neck and back problems. Bought this car used and didn't notice the problem during the test drive. Now after a week of driving the car, My neck and back are aching and I just can't get comfortable. Read many of the complaints on this website and wondered if someone found a real solution to the problem. Think my next call is to Honda but according to others that won't do much. I'm very surprised because I owned a 2004 Accord that I loved which is why I bought this one. Can't believe how uncomfortable the seats are. I haven't even gone on a long drive yet. I travel 45min to work everyday and the drive is getting achier everyday. If someone comes up with a solution, I would be glad to here it.

Update from Jun 3, 2012: Using a seat wedge but it only helps as little. My wife who is much shorter than I still has a very hard time driving because of the head rest.

The seats in the 2009 Accord, as already noted, are miserable. Just like everyone else who has reported on this has noted, I just assumed that the miserable comfort level was simply due to poor positioning that needed some tweaking. However, after nearly 2 years of owning this car I only have 3,000 miles on it. Why? Because the seats are so unbearable that I actually chose to ride my bike to work, a 20 mile commute, even in the winter in sub-zero temperatures and snow over driving the 2009 Accord. Riding in the car for a mere 15 minutes my left leg goes numb from a combination of torturous lumbar support that has NO adjustments due to it being tied into the active head restraint, and my neck hurts worse than being in a head on collision. It is truly sad because the car itself is actually decent. However, due to the poor seats I absolutely abhor this car, and I actually pray every single night that it gets stolen or destroyed in an act of god.

Purchased this Honda Accord 4 cylinder sharp black 4 door vehicle and from day one the driver's seat has been a problem for me. Short distance and worse on long distance traveling. The seats in this vehicle are absolutely terrible, very uncomfortble and has done a number on my back. All the seats are designed very poorly. You are absolutely stuck in a bad angle in all the seats front and back. My wife and daughter paid over $300 for a tempur pedic seat that fits on the driver's seat. This helps but is not the answer. This car was over $23,000 minus my cluncker deal trade in of a 1991 Lincoln town car.

I have bought five Honda vehicles and this is my last one.(honda crv, 3 honda civics and this piece of junk. I am looking to get rid of it after 2 years and 10,800 miles on this vehicle. I will go back to Herb Chambers in Burlington, MA and have a good laugh when they give me a price on a trade in. My back has been hurting since I purchased this vehicle. I doubt it very much if I will receive any satisfaction from this dealership. Once you leave the lot your done.