Subaru seats
I have yet to find a post on this subject but I'm desperate enough to start asking around. I'm one month into a new '12 Outback, after previously purchasing a '12 Forester and trading up to the OB. Both cars have proven (to me at least) to have the worst front seats I've ever encountered in any car I've driven in nearly 30 years of driving. The adjustments on the Forester were limited to forward and backward, but even with the power adjustment on the OB, I'm having all kinds of back problems (including likely sciatica problems) that I've never experienced before. No amount of seat adjusting, or extra cushions or pilllows, does anything to fix the problem. I'm facing a visit to the chiropractor to investigate the cause, but everything seems to point to the dang Subaru seats. I'm not at all unusual in my body type/frame/weight, so this is incredibly frustrating, especially since the OB, and even the Forester, are otherwise good vehicles and had everything I need at a good price. Any feedback is appreciated.
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The electronic controls are highly intuitive. Just grab the finger-contoured adjuster on the forward side of the seat, and pull up (or push down) to the height you want, then tilt forward or back as you like. I find that fairly high, with a tilt toward the steering wheel, works for me. Also, the best setting for those adjustments may not be what you initially think is the most comfortable.
Also, if you carry a wallet or anything in your back pocket while you drive.... stop doing that! Your back and hip both will thank you! The more bolstering the seat has, the more a wallet impacts me.
Finally, and this moves away from cars altogether, if your back is bothering you on a regular basis now, try moving away from sitting for long periods at your job (or at home). Years ago (2006), I started using a ball chair ("Sit-A-Round" from a company called Jobri, but I don't think they make that style any more) for a short time and my back started feeling better after the initial adjustment/strengthening period. After a couple months of that, I went to a standing workstation (with a stool for when I want to sit) and haven't had a lick of back issues since then.
The biggest benefit I have found, other than less fatigue and no back pain, is that my body is far more tolerant of car trips now. A six or seven hour trip to Anchorage was torture for me in the past, whereas now I can make the trip in comfort, or minimal discomfort by the end, and am fully recovered within only a short time (overnight sleep, etc).
I don't think AWD would, by itself, result in increased vibration. The engine does vibrate more at idle than an inline because it is naturally balanced (horizontally opposed cylinders) rather than using a weighted balancing system. I haven't noticed increased vibration at speed, though, which I would think is where most drivers spend their time. That said, I also don't deal with a crawl-style commute. If you do, maybe it is impacting you.
With no small amount of irony, I tweaked my back on Tuesday night. I am now reminded why I went through so much effort to reduce/eliminate my back pain when it was chronic! There's nothing worse. :sick:
A few weeks ago we got my wife a 2013 OB and the seats are quantifiably BETTER. The lumbar support on the driver's side is close enough to the one in my old "work" car-Mercury Grand Marquis and slightly better than my wife's '04 Lexus RX (traded on the OB). On a recent 2400 mile road trip I left the padded thingy home and was well pleased. Even when I was in the pax seat I noticed no problems.
I'm so impressed with the difference in ride and handling; even over the 2012!
easypar
Unfortunately, issues of comfort vary widely from person to person. When an issue is not universal, it doesn't tend to circulate widely. Hopefully you are able to arrive at an agreeable solution, without the financial hit!
And, that brings me to the point where I wasn't bothered enough by it to pursue a fix.
I have to weigh in here. I just bought a 2012 Subaru Legacy, the first Subaru I have ever owned. Within 2 weeks of driving it (I drive a lot), I started having bad lower back and right leg pain (where the torso meets the leg). I've never had this kind of pain before. Its progressively gotten worse, and the first 15 minutes or so when I first get in the car now are horrendously painful.. But it hurts all day now, even when I'm not driving. ... I have a constant throbbing pain in my upper thigh that radiates throughout my entire leg, and as I said, when driving it is really really bad...
(stop by and say hi your next trip out.
I've been observing my alignment in the driver's seat. I think the problem is the location of gas pedal being too far to the right and the center console inhibiting the right heal from firmly planting straight on the floor to press on the gas pedal. This causes me to twist my right leg to the left and mis-align my pelvis. However I cannot just put my food to the left, because the brake pedal is also too close to the gas pedal and my right foot gets caught under the brake pedal! It's ridiculous!
I've now had 2 chiropractic adjustments to be able to sit on a chair. I am using a small lumbar pillow and a towel. I'm going to buy a full Ergonomic Lumbar Pillow for Car Seat to help me with the alignment.
I may not be able to use the car any longer if this doesn't resolve soon.
Besides the 2017 forester, is there any word from the manufacturer with resolutions to this bad seat or alignment problem?
Thanks everyone!
Contact TCA Attorney at topclassactions.com because Subaru USA will not fix the problem so we need to make them fix the problem which has been medically clasified as " Subaru Sciatica Syndrome". They offered to buy back my 2021 Ascent, regardless of mileage or condition for what I paid for it, but I declined.
Contact TCA Attorney at topclassactions.com because Subaru USA will not fix the problem so we need to make them fix the problem which has been medically clasified as " Subaru Sciatica Syndrome". They offered to buy back my 2021 Ascent, regardless of mileage or condition for what I paid for it, but I declined.
Contact TCA Attorney at topclassactions.com because Subaru USA will not fix the problem so we need to make them fix the problem which has been medically clasified as " Subaru Sciatica Syndrome". They offered to buy back my 2021 Ascent, regardless of mileage or condition for what I paid for it, but I declined.
This is a serious medical condition classified as "Subaru Sciatica Syndrome" by national physical therapy professionals. You need to file a defective product complaint here
NHTSA at safecar.gov then contact the class action lawyers at TCA.com at top classactions.com to get this serious matter properly repairs at no cost to owners. Local dealership offered to buy back my Ascent regardless of mileage and condition for what I paid for it, but I declined. Subaru USA needs to be forced to make repairs and together we can make them do it!! Cushions, seat positioning, etc, DO NOT work or elevate the condition. I have to have surgery to correct my sciatica caused by the defective design of the seat resulting in serious pain and the ability to not apply adequate pressure on the brake pedal!!