9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$70
Average Mileage:
16,350 miles
Total Complaints:
44 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (26 reports)
  2. replace the seats (11 reports)
  3. bend headrest supports (2 reports)
  4. seat pad (2 reports)
  5. new headrest and proper ergonomics (1 reports)
  6. pay to have the seat re-made with padding (1 reports)
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problem #44

Jan 152013

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

Long distance driving is not possible. My legs get numb from blood flow being cut off. Looking at replacing my Santa Fe with a CR-V. The initial impression is that Honda has used the same configuration for these seats as they did for the Civic. That's an absolute no go for me. Everything else about the CR-V meets or exceeds other models in that market but a seat that cuts off blood flow in the legs will necessarily remove the CR-V from any consideration!

- Dave H., Fort Mill, SC, US

problem #43

Oct 212019

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,099 miles

When driving for any extended amounts of time, I get awful lower back pain that lasts for days out of the car as well. At the ripe old age of 21.

- Kurtis B G., Bancroft, ON, Canada

problem #42

Jun 012012

Civic LX 1.8L L4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60 miles

When I sit in my Civic's driver seat, it feels like my lower back sinks a foot behind my butt. It's not that the seat has no lumbar support, it's that it has NEGATIVE lumbar support. The result is intolerable amounts of back and neck pain within minutes of driving. I'm getting by by using a thick vibration massage seat cover made by Dr Scholls brand but the back and neck still hurts.

This is a well known problem for the recent generations of Civics, and when you consider how many of these Civics are sold, you can begin to grasp how big of a problem this is. When you sell a car with such bad seats to millions of people then you had better make the seats well or at least make them not hurt. I'm not sure how to make Honda accountable for this other than never buying a Honda product again, which is a resolution absolute.

I would be interested in a class action lawsuit for owners of all affected civic models to get the manufacturer to replace the seats with properly designed ergonomic seats and provide damage compensation. Moreover, national governing bodies such as NHTSA must be lobbied to set ergonomics standards for car manufacturers because this is a safety issue. Uncomfortable seats can cause injury and accidents.

- joerollz, Surrey, BC, Canada

problem #41

Aug 142017

Civic DX 1.8L

  • Manual transmission
  • 31,069 miles

I'm a full time delivery driver 6''1 and my work car is a 2015 Yaris, I can drive 8 hours with it without much issues. I have a lot of back issues, but still, driving into this small car is bearable. As for my personal cars I had a 2001 Grand Vitara which was simple but comfortable, long rides were not an issue. Then I've got a 2008 Corolla, the seats were causing me lots of back pain only after 20 minutes driving it. A small simple fix was to buy these wooden bead seat cover and it fixed my pain issue. I could drive 10 hours straight without much issues. I started having lots of troubles with it so I've gotten rid of it. Then I've been going to the dealer and saw this sweet 2012 Civic DX. I've been test driving it for maybe 20 minutes and thought it had great handling and about the same specs and fuel consumption as my Corolla which I greatly liked so I've bought it.

Here comes the day where all the papers are signed and I can now leave with it. I take my gf on a small road trip during the rest of the night and I keep adjusting the seat, without really being able to find a nice position. A few day pass and still I am always playing with the steering and the seat trying to find a position where my back wouldn't feel like catching fire when I enter and exit the car. I hoped in this nearly new car I wouldn't need my bead seat but I had to install it after having huge pains into the lower back and shoulder blades.

Tilting the seat to way to the rear and trying not to make too much movement and installing the bead seat allowed me to be able to drive more than an hour or two without too much pain into my shoulder blades or the lower back. But once I drive for longer time, my lower back starts to hurt and I start to not being able to feel my ass and am urging to get out.

There is not much solution remaining as my girlfriend and I love making road trips but the only though of being trapped in this car makes me almost depressed. I'll be trying to add some sort of rocking chair cushion as suggested or otherwise cancel the airbags simply install some sort of aftermarket racing seat -_-

- Damien T., Chicoutimi, QC, Canada

problem #40

Jan 152012

Civic LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

I love my honda civic, as long as I'm driving it around town. But when I have to drive for any length of time; 3 hours or more, it's awful. I'm crippled when I exit the vehicle! And I'm planning a trip to California this month and the thought of driving my little civic isn't pleasant. The seats are so uncomfortable. I've experienced pains in my legs and back due to long car rides. I'm not sure what it is about the seats. I've never experienced this in any other car I've owned : Ford Windstar, Ford Explorer, even my Ford Escort and Nissan Sentra did not cause my legs and lower back to ache like a trip in my civic.

- Lori T., Orange Park, US

problem #39

Dec 122016

Civic LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,427 miles

I hate this car. It's cheap and the seating are so bad that just thinking about sitting in it for one hour irritates me.. The car has only four years. I weight 130 pounds, my car has only 20,000 km when I realized that the seat was finished. It's like sitting directly on springs, you feel every little bump on the road, and in Montreal, there are a huge amount of holes and bumps.

I had a 2003 Honda Civic for ten years, the seat was still like new and comfortable ten years after. I can't believe how cheap my new car is compared to the one I had.

No more Honda for me.

- Chantale B., Montreal, QC, Canada

problem #38

Feb 022014

Civic SI 2.4L I4

  • Manual transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Like why not offer to sell different headrest, I would have bought it. I called and asked local dealer if there was any other options alas no. I looks at maybe buying prev. gen civic si(cause i like the luxury cloth). But the seats are different sizes so I cant replace the head rest or even swap out the seats with out changing the whole damn thing. So might as well just purchase 3rd party options or S2000 seats. Didn't seem worth it. After a while its not to bad and I've adjusted but boy o gender confused boy did it cause me physical pain first couple months with my knee angles from adjust he seat back.

- Kyle L., Annapolis, MD, US

problem #37

Jan 012012

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles

neck pain:horrible seat + headrest with no thoracic support

As an average-sized woman, the headrest that comes with this car pushes my head forward and causes me extensive head and neck pain on a regular basis. The ergonomics on the seat and head rest could not be much worse. I have heard that one solution is to recline the seat further, but the steering wheel does not telescope out far enough to do that without causing me to have to reach forward too far, which would cause its own ergonomic problems.

Please provide adjustable headrests - or headrests that aren't tilted so sharply - and more ergonomic seats.

I had my previous Honda for 17 years. I just wish I could get my old seat back!

- Lauren L., Durham, NC, US

problem #36

May 012016

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,000 miles

The headrest pushes my head down so I can not sit up straight in the seat. Which then causes my leg to go numb and my back to hurt .

- Debbie L., Surrey, BC, Canada

problem #35

Nov 022015

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

Add me to the list of customers who think the front seats are extremely uncomfortable and has led to back and leg problems.

- Eddie P., Cumming, GA, US

problem #34

Dec 012011

Civic LX 1.8L Inline 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10 miles

In comparison to other car seats this is by far the worst seat poster I have been in. I continuously have to get my back re-aligned since I bought this car. Recently I had my car repaired and drove a rental, wow, what a difference. Now I know my back pain comes from my car seats. I have a commute of 120 daily miles to work, plus what ever I drive for other activities and I have to say its painful. My car payment is about 340 plus a $50-$80 monthly re-alignment.

- nguiller, El Paso, TX, US

problem #33

May 312015

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,500 miles

I recently got a new car and because the safety ratings of this car was impressive, I opted to purchase the 2012 Honda Civic. After less than a week of driving the car, I had to go to my chiropractor due to pins and needles going down both arms. The seat is far from ergonomic even after making adjustments multiple times. I now have symptoms of nerve interference in my legs causing pain and discomfort. I have been contemplating bringing this car back to the dealer for the past two months, but don't want to lose any of my hard earned money because of a manufacturing issue.

- Jennifer E., Vernon Rockvl, CT, US

problem #32

Mar 152014

Civic EX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,500 miles

The seats are extremely uncomfortable, especially if you are driving for more than an hour. Ugh

- kaneroberts, Cincinnati, OH, US

problem #31

May 062015

Civic LS 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,920 miles

The headrests tilt so far forward that our heads hit them when we drive the car. It is uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous since it may be distracting to drive like this and we have to have the seat tilted far back so we can look forward. We decided that if we were going to keep the car, we'd have to make it driveable.

We removed the headrest and my husband put it in a vice and bent the stems of the headrest a little. Then, we put it back and we think it is better, but we are going to drive it for awhile to see if it really is better. Before this, we had to have the seat back tilted so far back that we were too far away from the controls to drive safely. My commute is only 9 miles each day, so not sure if this would solve the problem for a longer drive. Anyway, we can have the seat pulled up far enough to drive safely now, so it may be solved.

Very annoying to have a big manufacturer like Honda produce a head restraint so bad that the purchaser has to fix it themselves. Disappointing and potentially not safe.

- ntipping, NORTHFORD, CT, US

problem #30

Dec 302014

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,000 miles

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT GET A HONDA CIVIC! I sat in this car for a good 30 minutes, did two separate test drives on two different models and sure enough the first day I felt some discomfort on my lower back area. I thought nothing of it, I figured I was sitting too long or if it was a problem with the seat eventually I would break it in. Boy was I wrong! It has now been three months and I have had constant lower back pain every single day! It's either hit or miss with the seat. Either you have back pain, or you how hard it the seat is and don't get any pain. I switched cars with my sister for a few days, sure enough eventually she starting getting back pain. I haven't driven the car in about a week and everyday my pain is getting better and better! I refuse to drive it again.

It feels like a rock is just at the lumbar support area. I've tried everything! Ive gotten pillows from amazon with the "best" ratings and reviews. Massage covers, lumbar mesh supports. Absolutely nothing fixes the problem. I've had the car for three months and finally decided to trade it in soon. Honda has successfully managed to give me, a 22 year old male who plays sports and goes to the gym all the time, some major back pain just from a seat.

- morenoaz, Tempe, AZ, US

problem #29

Mar 012013

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,000 miles

I have been to a chiropractor and doctor numerous times because my legs started having a lot of pain when I would sit as well as neck and back pain. I finally found that I would have to do stretching to help relieve the pain, but on long trips the seats are just terrible. The steering wheel seems too far from me and I cannot get the back support to make these seats comfortable. I have been toying with the idea of trading the car in just because the seats are that uncomfortable! And these will cause problems over time if you drive much.

- pbaum83, New Berlin, WI, US

problem #28

Jul 012012

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5 miles

Legs go numb after twenty minutes of driving... constant neck pain. 'nuff said.

- Matt M., Erie, PA, US

problem #27

Nov 172012

Civic Natural Gas 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,000 miles

Seats are hard as a rock. Sitting erect, which I don't do, causes the headrest to interfere with head position. I use a cushion in the rear and a lumbar pillow to support my lower back, but nothing really helps. I have back problems already and this situation only makes it worse if I have to drive more than a short distance.

- Curtis M., Lancaster, CA, US

problem #26

Jun 012012

Civic LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

The seats are horrible and have been costing me thousands of dollars in doctor bills. They are sagged down and the head rest pushes head forward too much. Both problems cause an ergonomically incorrect posture and ensuing back pain. I have been through many sets of pillows to try to level the seat and add lumbar support. I plan to have the seat remade when I can afford it or trade car. I call it a torture chamber for the back. The seats need to be re-designed and replaced for current owners.

- gagardengal, Rocky Face, GA, US

problem #25

Aug 042014

Civic GX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,560 miles

The seat is EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Whatever material they used to make the seat is too hard and the shape of the seat is simply uncomfortable. (I don't know whether this is related but the seat does not tilt up or down which makes it uncomfortable because there is now too much pressure on the back of my legs/hamstrings while I'm driving.) The ergonomics are simply "off."

- chou, Signal Hill, CA, US

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