9.5

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$250
Average Mileage:
4,300 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. purchase a cushion online designed for car seats (2 reports)
  3. re-upholster seats (2 reports)
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problem #16

Feb 052020

(reported on)

Accord Sport 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 830 miles

The Driver and Passenger front seats of the 2016 Honda Accord Sport are horrible. They are very uncomfortable, offer very little cushion and support. My lower back and hips hurts during long trips of 70 miles or greater (my weight is 261). My wife who often sits in the passenger seat complains that the back of her legs hurt and start to go numb (she weighs 143 pounds). The driver seat is better in that it offers more angles of adjustment but, the passenger set is not the same and has less options for seat angles. It feels like the driver seat is bottoming out onto something hard and putting pressure onto my lower back, makes my but numb also.

I do not want to lose money on a trade to get rid of this car due to lack of build/material quality and driver/passenger comfort. Purchasing a seat cushion is the answer. The cushions in the seats are not firm to absorb shock or provide cushion. They are a soft material that collapses/compresses under weight, they feel hard and have absolutely no springiness to them at all.

I had a VW Jetta TDI that was bought back due to emissions lawsuit, the dealer knew that when I went in to look at this vehicle. I wish the salesperson who already knew of this complaint would have suggested a different model since I'm a big guy. Never trust a salesman, never trust a dealership, and think twice in this current age before trusting an automaker with a good history. They all just want your money and everything is made very poorly at a premium price. You want a luxury seat, you have to buy a luxury car. The old days where Hondas were your best bang for the dollar are long gone. Today's Hondas are not built like they use to be, nor any other manufacturer, unless you step up to a true luxury car. I think that is the new philosophy of car makers these days. Want it better, spend more and we will get you a better seat. I'm done buying new cars.

- monty4169rm, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #15

Feb 012016

Accord LX 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 33,000 miles

these seats with headrests are unbearable. Does anyone supply a headrest that can be added to the seat to support the neck and back.

- Michel W., Brown Deer, US

problem #14

Dec 042018

Accord Turning V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles

From day one I noticed a difference in the comfort of my seats. I've owned 3 Honda's top of the line turning models & this 2016 has to be the worst for comfort out of 30+ cars I've owned. Used to drive 600+ miles straight, now just 50 is like the 600 mile drive. I own a Ford Escape new 2018, has seats like my 2013 Honda Accord had. Love those. Nice fit all around & lots of padding. Cold drive this all day with never a sore ass problem.

I hope Honda will go good on these seat problems. If not it maybe the last Honda I buy. One cannot just change out the seats because of all the extras built in to them, they would have to be manufactured all over or custom upholstered. It sits more than I drive it, only about 4,000 miles on it & going on 3 years old. Anyone knowing a solution in the Duluth Superior area please let me know. I will bring this up to Honda care as well as a formal complaint. Will have to get my Vin number before I make the call. All responds to this are welcome & hope to be helpful, thank you all Honda owners.

- Daniel L., Superior, WI, US

problem #13

Nov 012016

Accord EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

click to see larger images

uncomfortable seats

Shortly after purchasing my 2016 Honda Accord EX, I noticed something very striking with the bad quality of the seat cushions and paddings. Namely how extremely uncomfortable they are to the point of causing me extreme lower back pain. I had to receive medical attention for several lower back injuries that my PTs could not rule out were caused in part by these seats.

I knew I wasn't going to receive help from Honda and getting a new car wasn't an option due to I paid cash and couldn't loose that much money right away. So I started looking into replacing the seats with ones from other cars that have higher quality offerings.

I really wanted a seat from a Mercedes or similar car, but the problem was fitting the seat to the rail holes and making all the functions work as well. My upholstery guy suggested just dismantling the current seat and keeping the rails and rebuilding the it from scratch to mimic a Mercedes style seat.

The options looked bleak so I gave him the green light and off he went. What he came up with is truly a night and day as far as comfort. The new bolstering has completely eliminated my lower back pain and I can drive well over a thousand miles at a time through multiple states without feeling fatigued or cramping up.

This option was also by far the cheapest as I did not have to purchase a junkyard or new seat from Mercedes or BMW and have him jimmy rig it to fit the current rails for the Honda. This option came to just north of $300 which is more or less what it would cost to just have the seat reupholstered anyways. I got a pretty good deal on the price but even if I didn't know the guy he said it still would have been way cheaper to go this route.

All the new foam and springs really do make a difference and if you are in a situation where you can't just give up your car, I highly recommend this option.

- bridamy, Antioch, CA, United States

problem #12

Aug 272018

Accord Sport 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 17,820 miles

Most driving has been 40 minutes or less for my commutes in this car. Front seats have been notably stiff and uncomfortable since purchase (new) 2 years ago. Wife and I finally took our Accord Sport on a vacation trip for 800 miles one way. My lower back was killing me in the driver seat. Had to stop every hour during our 800 mile journey. Wife complained of her left hip and left leg bicep hurting in passenger front seat. Took 2 days for my back to stop hurting after our trip.

On the 800 mile return trip a week later, our pain was worse. We switched seats, wife driving, me in passenger seat and same results occurred. Her back now hurt and my left hip and leg bicep hurt. Passenger seat upper only tilts forward and back, no other adjustments. Driver seat could not be adjusted to relieve pain. We tried up/down/lumbar support inflate&deflate/tilt forward&backward/angle seat forward&backward, nothing worked. Our solution is to try and purchase a seat cover cushion for more support.

Very disappointed in this vehicle and quality compared to my older Honda Accord which had much nicer seats and very comfortable. The newer Hondas are lacking in quality. We may have to get rid of this car if we can't enjoy it. Definitely won't be buying another Honda anytime soon. Needs to be fixed by Honda. If we can't get comfortable driving it, then why continue owning it. Our 2004 BMW x3 has awesome seats.

- monty4169rm, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #11

Aug 242016

Accord LX

  • CVT transmission
  • 100 miles

Bought LX 2016 , the drivers seat as well as back seats , after sitting for short duration as well, causes severe back pain , both my kids and wife ,and of course myself are having lower back pains, it has come to the point where I don't want to take this car out of garage. It has 120 miles on it only!!!!, and I cannot bear the lower back pain. My 12 yr old and 9 yr old complaining of back pain as well ever since we started using this car for smaller commutes.

Need this FIXED!!!!

- Shahid U., San Jose, CA, US

problem #10

Sep 292015

Accord Sport 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40 miles

The seats in this car are really uncomfortable to be in for more that 30 minutes. Manufacture needs to take responsibility and replace them with better ones. I feel like it has hurt my back permanently.

- lionelg, Garland, TX, US

problem #9

Nov 262016

Accord EX-L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120 miles

I went to a body worker yesterday because my lower and upper back and legs were in such pain. I tried placing pillows and towels in strategic places, and I just ordered a variety of lumbar support / cushions to try to alleviate the pain. I cannot believe that I just spent $33,000 for this car and cannot drive it for more than 15 minutes before experiencing excruciating pain. I have just over 1,100 miles on it and have no idea what to do. I tried adjusting the driver seat positions: forward/back, up/down, angled/leveled the seat, adjusted the lumber support to more/less pronounced positions, without finding a position that alleviates the pain. Also, when I try to adjust the steering wheel to see if arm position might be part of the problem, it lands either high, or if I lower it, the wheel blocks the speedometer in the range 55-85 mi/hr. My previous vehicle, a Dodge Grand Caravan, had wonderful seats. I thought I was "moving on up" with a reliable Honda Accord.In fact, I never had a comfort problem with any other vehicle I have owned in the past 40 years. Please help me find a solution.

- Marilyn S., Berkeley, CA, US

problem #8

Sep 062016

Accord EX-L 2.5L 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 2,750 miles

I can't drive in the car for more and an hour without having incredible pain in my lower back. This problem wasn't evident in the short test drive. On extended drives of 2 hours or more it can take a couple of days for the pain to completely subside. I am a healthy, fit 34 year old male with no back problems. I am afraid this car will give me problems if I continue to drive it. I am seriously considering trading it in and taking a huge financial loss.

- Sam T., Midland, TX, US

problem #7

Aug 192016

Accord LX 2.4L

  • Manual transmission
  • 2,489 miles

There is something wrong with the front seats. On long trips, my wife complains about hip pain in the passenger seat. I can't get comfortable in the driver's seat. I've tried putting it all the way back, forward and everything in between. I get a pain in my right leg. Don't know if it is necessarily the seat, the width of the centre console or the position of the pedals. We could drive my 2005 Camry all day (from Canada to Florida) and feel great. This car starts to hurt after 20 minutes.

- mrozman, Toronto, ON, Canada

problem #6

Aug 012016

Accord Sport 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 100 miles

severe back pain due to driver's seat

In the first week of ownership I noticed my back would be in pain about 30 minutes into my one hour commute to and from work each day. I did not think it was possible to have an issue with seats in a brand new car but these are terrible. The pain has only gotten worse and now I'm scheduled to see a doctor this week to see if there is anything that will help outside of selling the car and taking a HUGE loss. This is the first Honda I have ever purchased and will likely be my last.

- dsminatlanta, Atlanta, GA, US

problem #5

Jun 062016

Accord EX-L 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 350 miles

Lower back pain when driving the car. The drivers seat in this car, is very poorly designed. This is my 5th Honda, and although I was excited to get it, I no longer am. Test drives did not reveal this problem. Contacted my dealer, and opened up a case with Honda. If I do not find a solution, I may have to take a beating and sell it. Shame on you Honda- I had faith and you let down a loyal customer. Own up to this problem. Too many people are having it!

- tfierro, Northport, NY, US

problem #4

Feb 202016

Accord Touring 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles

My new 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6 is a beautiful car with modern features and that includes perforated leather seats. Unfortunately the seat bottom of the drivers seat is way too stiff. Very uncomfortable compared to my previous leather seats in my Dodge charger or my wife's leather seat in her Mazda CX9. We are not really talking about a cheap econ-o-box here. We are talking about a 35K mid-size car. Not much a can do about it except to get one of those tacky seat cushions I suppose.

- Steve H., Lansdale, PA, US

problem #3

Feb 122016

Accord LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 325 miles

This my 3rd Honda Accord in 22 years. Bought first one in 1994- loved it. Bought next one in 2005 - loved it! Bought the 2016 & can't even drive it. Due to the drivers seat I have back, neck & leg pain that is unbearable. What they did to the seat I do not know except it was a mistake. Honda won't do anything & the dealership offered me over $2,000 less than what I paid for it. I am screwed. I can't drive the car so, I will have to take a huge loss getting rid of it. Very disappointing Honda!!!

- Victoria S., Elmira, NY, US

problem #2

Mar 142016

Accord Sport 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 36 miles

Just purchased 2016 Honda Accord Sport and the seats are horrible. I have lower back pain on the left side of my body. No amount of adjustments make a difference. There is no support what so ever. I traded in my 2014 Chevrolet Malibu that had perfect comfortable seats for this awful feeling that is creating pain in my body.

- skfoster99, San Jose, CA, US

problem #1

Nov 112015

Accord EX-L 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 450 miles

Just got my 2016 Honda Accord EX-L two days back. I was all excited to get this car which quickly died within a couple of days. I have developed severe back pain and hip pain just from an hour of driving. I thought I will get used to the seats and the pain will subside, but the pain started to worsen. I have tried several seat setting without any relief. Now with my third day of driving I know that this is heading for the worse. Before this I never had any back or hip issues. I have to drive about an hour and a half to my work , which never bothered me before this. I have used Nissan altima, Kia Rio for a long time now to commute without any problems. Now with this car it is such a pain. What a shame , with a flagship like car for Honda why are the seats made so uncomfortable and poorly designed?

The lumbar support design is the main problem. There is a band which is just above the adjustable lumbar support system which does not move and pinches on the back like a strap. Which is highly uncomfortable. Then when you try to make it even by pushing lumbar support forward it is even more uncomfortable to lower lumbar. The support is too hard. Then there is no support to lower part which creates problem is lower back. Plus the lower flat surface and the back support are hinged on such a way that the hips get strained and start to hurt slowly. No matter how many settings I try they are uncomfortable. I am just shocked how less reputed companies are making much better seats. As someone said it doesn't make any sense to make a engine that lasts for 200,000 miles when I cannot drive 200 miles comfortably. Now I spent over 30K to buy an expensive uncomfortable car.

This problem is highly unlikely to surface with a short test drive and accords are not really available to rent to try for a few days. Going by the reputation is a big mistake. Beware new buyers !

- arunm, Detroit, MI, US