9.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $270
- Average Mileage:
- 16,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 45 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (32 reports)
- need help to find solution (4 reports)
- after market seat adapter (3 reports)
- make adjustable headrest (3 reports)
- replace seat (2 reports)
- traded Accord for a Honda CRV (1 reports)
I didn't know how bad the seats were until my chiropractor asked me (in 2020) what model car I drove. Well that was the beginning of costly visits to keep me out of pain. A special wedge pillow makes sitting in this car tolerable. I just bought a Buick LaCrosse, wow - a world of difference in seating.
- Cindy H., West Milton, OH, US
The headrest slants forward pushing the head out of line with the back. This causes extreme neck and back pain. Headrest will not adjust for proper alignment of back and neck. No proper support for upper back due to head rest causing the head to be pushed forward so that the chin in angled down toward chest and upper back forced to have a 3 in gap between back and seat.
- cindelee, Byron Center, US
click to see larger images
The degree of inclination of the front seat head restraints is so pronounced that the driver and the passenger are forced to assume an extremely uncomfortable posture that can result in damage to the spine. My previous Accord was a 2005 and head restraints in that model were great; seats were comfortable.
Update from Mar 21, 2019: Head restraint inclination equals 21 degrees - ridiculous!
- eamgro@gmail.com, Austin, US
Lately that I feel very uncomfortable driving even fors a very short time. This car cost a lot money and it should have built for the comfort of the customer.
- Corrie G., Benicia, US
The car was great except for driver's seat. I tilted it, lowered it, raised it, adjusted the lumbar and I still could not get comfortable. After on the road for an hour the seat was killing me. I really wanted to buy the car, but the seat was a total turn off for me. Now it has me wondering are all Honda's this bad. I really wanted this car too. It's a shame the seats are so bad in this expensive car. I will keep test driving till I find one that works for me. I sure do hope its a Honda, but this sure is not a good sign.
- lhrogers40, Beulaville, US
Can't go on a trip for more than 30 minutes without circulation being cut org in legs and back becoming sore. Had a 1996 Honda Accord for 20 years previously; this car is a disappointment. My 11 and 14 year old hate traveling in it.
- Marci G., Williamsport, PA, US
This 2013 Honda Accord EX-L is the BEST car I've ever owned AND THE WORST CAR I EVER OWNED!!! I had a 2004 Honda Accord LX that I bought brand new and took several long, long trips with it. My seats were not fancy, but they were comfortable enough so I had NO BACK PAIN at the end of my trip. I sold it with almost 300,000 miles on it with NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS EVER (I should have kept it). I bought a 2011 Honda Accord LX with 30,000 miles on it. Great car, no mechanical problems, not many bells and whistles but COMFORTABLE SEATS with sufficient lumbar support. My husband saw a 2013 maroon Honda Accord EX-L with 16,000 miles on it and all the newest bells and whistles, so we bought it. We have owned it for 2 months now without any mechanical problems. We really like this car but I have ONE MAJOR PROBLEM: THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS CAUSING ME EXCRUCIATING PAIN IN MY LOWER BACK even after short 30 minute trips - and I never had back pain before! No seat or lumbar adjustment works! On longer trips, MY LEGS ALSO GET NUMB!!! If anyone has found a lumbar support pillow that works in this model and year car, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I have already bought 2 that don't work. I hope Honda listens to ALL THESE SEAT COMPLAINTS - not that it will help me out any because I can't afford to buy a different car - I'm retired. I just hope that everyone is aware of these seat problems BEFORE THEY BUY THE CAR!!!!
- greengirl711, Gloversville, NY, US
Almost 20-years I have been driving cars but never experience such UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS in 2013 Accord Sports. My right shoulder blade goes inside to seat while driving and it hurts all the way driving. Hurting my lower back disc L5S1. I had spent lot of money to doctors visits and Chiropractic visits. Since i bought this car my back pain got worst.
I did complaint America Honda, about my seat but visually they could not figure out..so they rejected this issue. I don't trust on Honda
I don't know how we can complaint or file Law suite against this company. its a big issue now.
- Asad M., Fairfax, VA, US
Purchased the 2013 Honda Accord and within only a few days I was having neck and back pains because the headrest protrudes forward. Tried every seat position to try to alleviate the neck pain and get comfortable.. By day 5 my neck was stiff and I could hardly turn my head. Looked on line and found lots of complaints about the headrest issue. Can no longer drive the car. Returned the vehicle to the dealership and purchased a Toyota instead.
- mandd, Manassas, US
Most uncomfortable seats in my 50 years of driving. Even Chevrolet has better seats than Accord. Have to add my own cushions, seat and back rest, to compensate. How can Honda excel in so many areas and fail miserably in others like comfort and noise elimination.
- Dean H., Goose Creek, SC, US
I have tried everything to solve this seat problem. Went to the dealer-no help, purchased cushions-no help.
Investigated the seat problem-Are the tires the problem 235/45/r18 Michelin-somewhat. These are low profile tires the middle number the "45" indicates the amount of air for cushioning, or stated another way a regular Honda LX would have a 16 inch tire and the middle number would be "60", thus somewhat softer ridding. This is also a Sport. I checked with the dealer to see if I could modify the front suspension to a softer ride-they said that the suspensions on the LX and Sport are the same-an outright lie.
I am about to go to an orthopedic physician for pain in my pelvic region. My wife has four cracked disc in her spine and she is miserable in the vehicle no matter how much I try to cushion her seat. I finally adjusted the head rest to lessen some of the pain in her back caused by her head tilting forward.
Honda may make a good vehicle, but does not give a damn about its customers.
Should I sell or trade this car now or wait for a fix?
- Lawrence E., Geismar, LA, US
The seats on the 2013 Honda Accord are horrible. They are the most uncomfortable seats I have ever head. The memory seat button is constantly being changed daily since I have yet to find a good setting. My legs go numb, my lower back has pain, and my neck randomly gets stiff. The head restraint is horrid, the lumbar support is ineffective, and the dip in the thigh cushions leads to pressure on nerves. No fix has been found or suggested.
- Dominic B., Houston, TX, US
The design of the drivers seat is terrible, it causes sever back pain in an average size driver. I am adding my complaint to the many many others I have read since encountering this issue myself. I will be taking the car back and taking a loss to get rid of it rather than endure the pain.
- droving, glendale, AZ, US
click to see larger images
As a physical therapist, I am OUTRAGED by the seats in my recent used car purchase of a 2013 Honda Accord EX-L with navigation. This is BY FAR the most money I have spent on a vehicle and is THE ONLY seat I have ever had SIGNIFICANT PAIN in while seated. I have only owned this car 6 days and can't take it! Who in the world designed a seat which creates CHRONIC POSTURAL STRAIN?! I am calling Honda manufacturer tomorrow, and there better be some resolution. I can't get this seat comfortable (or even bearable for that matter) no matter how I adjust the seat. I even spent $350 on a memory foam high back/ buttocks support for my seat yesterday. It is only barely helping. I demand a new seat or a different car!! Not only does the head restraint PUSH my head DOWN and forward, the thoracolumbar support is almost non-existent, and I am even getting buttock and sacral pain from prolonged sitting in this seat. I am FURIOUS!! Who, Honda, did you have design these seats?!? Give me a patient with whiplash any day, I can get them better in a handful of visits. If you give me someone who is in a chronically strained postural position--I will NEVER get them better until the strain is no longer existent!!
- Laura M., Florissant, MO, US
I have never complianed about a car before. I have owned more than 12 cars in the last 25 years. The 2013 Accord Coupe is the most uncomfortable car for the driver. The seat is hard, and causes severe back, neck and leg problems. Honda will do nothing. They wouldn't eeven put a supervisor on the phone to talk to me.The dealer will do nothing.
- Michael H., Plainview, NY, US
The front seats are very uncomfortable. After driving about 2 1/2 hours my right leg starts paining. The pain goes from my butt to my leg. I would go to a rest stop, walk around for about 10mins, but after about an hour and a half of driving later, the pain is unbearable again. Same thing with the passenger seat. The car is great, but the seats are terrible.
- Raj D., East Brunswick, NJ, US
I purchased a 2012 in 2014. Then came home and reviewed carcomplaints. Yes, his drivers seat is not comfortable even though it has adjustable lumber support. My solution is old school. I purchased a small lumber pillow and have been using it since. To me this works much better. Give it try.
- Leon S., Fort Myers, FL, US
I PURCHASED THE HONDA ACCORD EX-L IN 2013. BEAUTIFUL CAR INSIDE AND OUT. HOWEVER, THE HEADREST PUSHES MY HEAD TOO FAR FORWARD. I DEVELOPED CHRONIC NECK AND BACK PAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO. I NOW HAVE SEAT CUSHIONS ECT, TO ASSIST BUT ITS STILL REALLY PAINFUL. THE HEADREST PUSHES MY HEAD SO FAR FORWARD THAT MY UPPER BACK CANNOT REST ON THE SEAT. HONDA REALLY NEEDS TO FIX THIS! I'VE SPENT A TON ON PHYSICAL THERAPY AND BACK DOCTORS. I DESPISE DRIVING THIS CAR, LOOKING TO TRADE IT IN. HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED.
- clyn, Baltimore, US
I cannot drive my Honda Accord without pain, and pain is worsening now, so that I wake up hurting. I have purchased several different car seat cushions and pillows; nothing helps. Last week, I went to the doctor, thinking it was me and not the car; she couldn't find anything wrong. The pain happens when I drive my Honda Accord and not when I drive my son's car.
- Carol H., White Plains, NY, US
We've sat in dozens of other cars. The 2013 Accord, and its family is the 2nd most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in, especially the passenger seat. My wife can sit in the passenger seat for about 30 minutes, with the evil headrest turned around, and then she'll be headed to the chiropractor.
- Andy M., Raleigh, NC, US