CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Honda Accord has a solid reputation (so far), with one very significant flaw: uncomfortable seats.
Owners have consistently reported uncomfortable seats with the entire 8th generation (2008-2012) of Honda Accords. Complaints range from back pain to leg circulation problems due to bad lumbar support, cushioning, & seat angle. Complaints aren't limited to only a certain body type -- the seat comfort problems are from a wide spectrum of owner height & weight.
The common theme we hear is "never noticed this during the test drive." Unfortunately for unwary buyers, the seat pain is noticeable after 15-20 minutes.
8.9
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$140
Average Mileage:
9,550 miles
Total Complaints:
83 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (39 reports)
the seats need to be replaced!!!!! (34 reports)
offer replacements for poorly designed headrests (all seats) (4 reports)
Petition To Honda To Replace Defective Driver Seats - This petition is to make Honda aware of this problem so they replace their defective driver seat which is causing honda owners severe pain and injury to their body. This affects Honda owners from the year 2008 up to and including 2012.
Bought 2011 honda accord lx and as soon as I drove it for the first hour I had unbelievable back and neck pain from the rock hard seats. Wish I could return the car but know that's a joke. Honda should be ashamed of the seats they have in this vehicle , wish I read the blogs on this website before I purchased this torture box on wheels. Can't believe I gave my 2000 accord away for this inferior quality car. Not only is the seat hard but it vibrates with every road imperfection. Wish I had leased instead of buying . Usually keep my cars for 10 years------not this one. Got to get rid of it before I have permanent back damage.
Just bought this car. Did a test drive and had no problems. After the purchase I did my first commute to work which is a bout 80 miles. After 30 miles I couldn't believe how sore my back was and my feet were going numb from the seat. I looked on line to see if others had this problem and was shocked at how long honda has recieved complaints and done nothing to fix it. This is a great car otherwise, but if they don't do a recall in the next month or so I will take my losses and sell it. If your legs are going numb from this seat it is a serious safety concern. I can't believe a class action has not taken place against Honda.
The seat cushion is like sitting on a rock. There is very little padding under the horizontal seams. These then cut across your buttocks like you're sitting on a bar. If it wasn't for this, the seats would probably be acceptable. Currently looking for a solution to this.
The seats are so painful that they make driving impossible. Honda should replace all seats on 2011 Accords (front seats - both driver & passenger). A short test drive does not help understand the problem. I never had backache problems - but this car may give me chronic backache.
Lumbar support on Accord 2011 SE is so bad that even with a zero setting, it is causing extreme discomfort and pain in my lower back. Called Honda customer service and as expected they have no clue. I bought this a couple of days ago and regretting it. Everything else about the car is extremely good but what a pain sitting in it.
- timothyca,
Sunnyvale, CA, US
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I purchased the 2011 Honda Accord Special Edition. It handles beautifully, The gas mileage is not even close to what the tell you you are going to get and the seats are very uncomfortable. I told the dealership and they said I would get used to the seats, but that is not happening and it's been 3 months.
I never owned a Honda before and the first Honda I owned became my last. I bought a 2011 Accord LX-P with quite possibly the worst seats ever made. The test drive was not long enough to cause any problem. After owning the car for about a week, the seats starts stabbing you in the back. The seats are not designed for long trips. There is no known setting on the seats to make it comfortable, it almost feels like sitting on a rock! I tried cushions, pillows, you named it, but nothing helps. I came to the dealer and they told me there is nothing they can do and its in the design of the seat. WORST SEAT EVER MADE on such a nice car, shame!!! GOT RID OF THE CAR because I can't stand the fact of being in pain for the next 60 months of financing it. IF YOU HAVE BACK PROBLEMS, I WOULD NOT BUY AN ACCORD. PERIOD.
This 2011 Honda is my third Honda Accord EX. I assumed it would be as great as the other two and took it for a very short test drive. That was a mistake. The seats are miserably uncomfortable. I called Honda and asked if they had a pad or something I could buy to improve the seat comfort. They had nothing.
I have been a fan of Honda having purchased five Hondas, four of them new. The 2003
Accord has very comfortable seats with excellent head rests. October of 2011 I tried a 2010 Honda Accord and found the seats to be very uncomfortable. The salesman acknowledge the problem indicating them a number of other people experienced the same discomfort. He recommended that I try a new 2011 which I did and found the seats to be questionable. But, reluctantly, I bought the car. After driving it for a number of miles the discomfort became apparent and I have now spent close to $2000 trying the alleviate the problem! The only solution is to have a small pillow between the seat and back. This is the worse seat I have sat in and others who sit in the car quickly agree with me. I believe that Honda should correct the problem but "a big company" will not address the problem of "the average person". I have steered people away from purchasing a Honda and will continue to do so. I will shortly sell the car taking a $8000 loss. At this point I will not purchase another Honda and am looking a a Toyota Camry or Avalon...too bad as otherwise I do like the Honda Accord..
My wife and both drive Honda vehicles and we have had multiple previous Honda vehicles with no previous complaints.
The 2011 Accord EX Drivers seat (not sure about the passenger seat) is the most uncomfortable seat I have ever had the opportunity to drive in and I have not found a solution yet to eliminate the discomfort and pain when driving. I will next research replacement seats. I have not spoken to Honda about this yet but will very soon.
As with all other complaints noted, there does not seem to be a remedy. I get excited for a few minutes when the numbness in my right leg goes away with a new try at a new position but within another few minutes the pain and numbness returns at a different point. I am not too far from trading the car back in and taking the loss as described by another person or look to getting a customized seat put in..this could be a less expensive solution than taking a trade in loss but frankly I am overwhelmed by the whole process at this point. How did this car make the 10 best cars 25 yrs and running? Lastly what are the rights of a new car buyer? I don't expect Walmart 90 day returns but something better than drive it off the lot and your "stuck" with it...
Update from Aug 18, 2011: Upon request I am updating my original post.....Question was WHAT DID I DO....
Bought a new car. I traded the Honda in and took a loss. I broke all my rules in buying the Honda and will NEVER NEVER do that again (I rent cars that I am interested in before I buy) I have a bad back... I drove a Hyundai Sonata rental on a 7hr drive and fell in love with the car....I went to a dealership to buy the Hyundai but was given a crazy great deal on the Honda....I took it for 15 min test drive..(MY MISTAKE) and thought hmmmmmm 25yr top 10 list ...SOLD...
I looked at all scenarios including Recaro custom seats but alas I bit hard and ended up ADDING $57 bucks to a loan that had I originally bought the Hyundai would have cost $10.00 less than the Accord. In a nutshell I am not looking back...I LOVE MY HYUNDAI SONATA and would recommend to anyone.
The reason I decided to do what I did is: I could not drive the Honda for more than 25 minutes.....my daily commute is an hour. I did not believe that it would change and I do not buy cars every 2 yrs. Recaro seats were going to be about 1$500 and look weird. So I looked at all these factors and decided I would rather look like a fool than actually be a fool and drive with a numb leg for 5-7 years.
The dealer? They said they never heard of such a thing....LOL
However I found a few sensitive to my issue ears and got a great deal on the extended warranty ( I do alot of driving and usually blow past the initial warranty years in advance)..(I paid $50.00 above cost) and that helped lessen the blow a bit.
All in all it was about a $2500 lesson I would have rather not had but my back, my leg, my wife (Who had to hear me complain every second) are happier.
And lastly I now have a "can you believe this" story to tell.
The biggest hurdle to get over was "I cannot believe I have to trade this in and take a loss"
The driver car seat is so poorly designed I can’t believe Honda can do this. I purchased this one after owning a 99 Accord and 04 Pilot. I went to dealer complained about it after driving for only one day; they refused to do anything saying that there is no mechanical problem! This will be probably my last Honda car purchase.
The driver seat on the Accord is the worst seat ever!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is very uncomfortable, it causes chronic back pains!!!!!! It is defective. Honda should do a recall and replace it. I've tried every setting possible, but no relief. I even used seat cushions, but nothing, the seat itself is the problem. It's poorly constructed and Honda knows it but choose not to do anything.
Drove the car about 5-7 miles during the test drive. Noticed that the seats were a bit stiff but figured that we would get used to them. Ha!!! Just like you wouldn't get used to riding a mule with a concrete saddle there was no way to adapt to this. My wife began to have back pain the next day. Then her legs got numb and went to sleep. I didn't have as much trouble as she did until the last time I drove the car. Even with a pillow under my backside I experienced pain like I had never known when driving any vehicle. We kept the car a total of 11 days and then traded it in to a Nissan dealer on a 2011 Rogue. Honda dealer was contacted about the problem and said they had not had any reports of this problem but would be glad to take it back in on a trade. Fat Chance!!! Stay away from the Honda accord. Unless you have a chiropractor in the family.
The very poor front seat design noted on earlier models continues in the 2011 model Accord. My wife is in constant pain after driving only a few miles.
I bought a brand new 2011 Honda Accord SE yesterday, and test drove after work with excitement. In less than one hour I wanted to return the car. Back pain. I read the manual and search the website to understand the situation.
I will contact the dealer and update what is going on with the car.
I drove the 2011 Honda accord for 2 hours and got off it. All the way after close to 40-45 mins of driving, the back and neck started paining terribly. They are rock hard seats. It really hurts the back. I had a 99 Camry and 98 accord before and the seats are very comfortable. Honda should do a recall on these seats. Please post a complaint on all available sources. I read about the seats before buying it but thought it should not really matter as it hurts that person but I should be fine with it. I regret so much. Please be away from this car.
Everybody going through this should post a complaint to make Honda start acting on it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought 2011 honda accord lx and as soon as I drove it for the first hour I had unbelievable back and neck pain from the rock hard seats. Wish I could return the car but know that's a joke. Honda should be ashamed of the seats they have in this vehicle , wish I read the blogs on this website before I purchased this torture box on wheels. Can't believe I gave my 2000 accord away for this inferior quality car. Not only is the seat hard but it vibrates with every road imperfection. Wish I had leased instead of buying . Usually keep my cars for 10 years------not this one. Got to get rid of it before I have permanent back damage.
- Lillian K., Patchogue, NY, US