The headrest of the front seats makes it impossible for you to rest your body to the back of the seat without leaning the head forward, causing neck pain. I had a road trip during Christmas and my neck had great pain after driving. It also caused headache/migraine. Now, I got the neck pain even after a relatively short trip (20 miles). This may not happen to you if you are shorter. My wife doesn't experience it because she is shorter and the headrest doesn't affect her sitting position as much as it does to me. Wish I knew this before I purchased this car. If I knew this, I would have purchased a Toyota Sienna instead.

After 14 years, I finally bought a new car--a 2016 Honda Odyssey several days ago. I love how it drives. However, the first long trip I took was to pick up and take my grandchildren to Galveston. The trip there was long because there was an accident that slowed the traffic. By the time I got to Galveston, my rear and hips were hurting because the driver's seat was so hard and uncomfortable. I have driven a Dodge Grand Caravan for 200,000 miles and have never hurt like this. I can hardly walk today. I bought the Odyssey because I have to make long trips, and my Dodge was worn out (in fact mostly replaced inside because Americans cannot make good engines). However, I realize now that they make comfortable seats.

I can hardly walk today. I don't know what I'm going to do. This seat might cripple me. I'm 66 years old, and did not realize the problem with the horrible seats before I bought it. Today, I'm searching for a solution. I was so excited about my Odyssey--until I took this road trip. Perhaps I can exchange the seats (I haven't sold my Caravan yet).

Please, does anyone know what I can do?

Shame on you, Honda, for making such an uncomfortable and hurtful seat.

The driver's head restraint causes significant neck and back pain because the restraint pushes my head forward so that my chin tilts down toward my chest. This also makes it difficult to look straight ahead at the road. I have tried all vertical positions of the head restraint. I have tried adjusting the lumbar support. I have tried adding a neck support pillow. Nothing has worked.

The owner's guide says, "The center of the back of the occupant’s head should rest against the center of the restraint. The tops of the occupant’s ears should be level with the center height of the restraint" (page 42). I am unable to sit with the restraint in the recommended position (or any position) without significant neck and back pain and without difficulty looking forward.

The Owner's Manual goes on to give the following warning: "Improperly positioning head restraints reduces their effectiveness and increases the likelihood of serious injury in a crash." Therefore, I do not feel safe adjusting the restraint in any other unrecommended position.

Additionally, the Owner's Guide gives instructions for the head restraints to operate as designed: "For a head restraint system to work properly: • Do not hang any items on the head restraints, or from the restraint legs. • Do not place any object between an occupant and the seat-back. • Install each restraint in its proper location" (page 43). Therefore, placing any pillows behind the driver's back or neck is considered unsafe.

The Owner's Guide gives another warning, "Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death in a crash. Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor" (page 42). I am unable to sit "well back in the seat" because the restraint pushes my head, neck and shoulders forward.

Therefore, this head restraint causes significant safety concerns as well as significant physical pain. I am an average sized woman in good health, so I believe that my concerns may very well be a problem for many other 2016 Honda Odyssey drivers.

driver head restraints are too far forward

I have only had my new 2016 Honda Odyssey for 2 weeks and my neck is sore from driving it. The head restraint pushes my head so far forward that I feel that my chin is almost on my chest. I like to sit up straight when I drive and i cannot do that with this head restraint. I had a 2005 Honda Odyssey and it was a very slight problem then, but this one is way worse. It pushes my head a good 2 inches more forward than what the proper neck position should be for a normal healthy posture. I am a person that is working on my health and well being. I go to the chiropractor and this head restraint is undoing all the work I have done to get my posture back to normal. I get that a lot of the population have a slouchy posture but do we have to create it in everyone that chooses to drive a Honda? I'm not sure how I will deal with this situation, but if i wouldn't lose money on this 2 week old Honda, I would probably return it. I have tried to replace them with the second row restraints but they of course are a different size. That being said, due to my research on this issue i have found that this is not only a Honda issue. It is an issue with multiple brands. So, I have no idea what kind of car I would be able to get, should I sell this one, that wouldn't ruin my spinal health. As of right now, I will be looking into a seat cushion for behind my back to possibly fill in the void so that I can sit upright like a normal human being. I hope I am able to find a solution.