Hey all,

So, the height of the new 2013 RDX front passenger power seat doesn't rise or lower, it only moves forward and backwards. It's not a huge issue since I'm driving most of the time. However, I rode in the passenger seat and think the factory height is too low by at least an inch. Does anyone know if risers, spacers or washers can be added to increase the height without obstructing the functionality of the power seat? Oh, and also the passenger side airbags ? Thx

 

Great question. I would really like to know an answer on this myself too. I agree that the height needs adjustment. It would have been great had Acura included a power height adjustment switch for the passenger side.

 

Just discovered the same thing. Just took my wife for her first ride in the RDX and she kept fiddling around with the seat and I asked her what was wrong. She said "I can't find the button to raise the seat." I said I don't think there is one and she said well that stinks as it is way to low. She is probabably about average height for a female. Said she can probably get used to it on a trip but really doesn't like the current height and can't believe Acura wouldn't have a height adjustment on it.

 

My passengers have complained the front passenger seat is too low. If anyone can find a solution, please let me know.

 

^^^ Make new "taller" friends *lol* (sorry, couldn't resist). You are not the only one complaining or concerned about this exact same issue. I just hope the MMC will not include this feature as I will be royally pissed. Other than that (and the poor USB integration), I love the RDX to death!

 

I just took a 1400 mile trip with an adult passenger in the back seat for the first time, who was seated behind the front passenger. After a couple of hours the one in back started complaining about the lack of foot room causing his feet to cramp up, and he couldn't get comfortable. He swapped to sitting behind the driver (me) and was a lot happier for the rest of the trip (I have my seat on the highest setting).

So, don't know if we absolutely need *adjustable* height on the passenger side (it would have been nice for the money we pay), but I'd say we definitely need *more* passenger seat height than the factory gave us. I really do hope there will be a way to raise the seat safely.

 

robuckj...Actually, you raise a good point.....maybe getting a height adjustor is not a MUST as long as Acura would properly position the passenger seat.

 

Hi all. Just picked up my 2013 RDX today. Nice car, but the wife is certainly complaining about this low seat as well. In addition, she's also complaining the passenger lumbar isn't set well for her and she finds the seat angled downwards too much. (she's 5ft tall). Has anybody found a solution for this passenger seat issue at all? Any way to adjust the seat by removing it and putting in spacers or something like that?

She's leaning towards buying or making some kind of back support with a cushion to sit on, but to me that looks... too ghetto. Not to mention I'm scared she's going to get a hello kitty thing!!

 

Hi all,
Yes, the seat lacks height in both driver and passenger for shorter people... until Acura add that feature to it RDX, a seat cushion (2") should do for now.

 

Thanks, do you have any good suggestions on a seat cover?

 

Stupid. I mean good cushion.. maybe something with lumbar support for her?

 

Does the RDX get sold in Japan? They drive on the right side, and assuming vehicles are similarly equipped the driver seat should be a 10 way...see where this is going?

 

Heh. Depending on the cost of the seat I suppose that could be an interesting option...! Don't some performance places change seats? I wonder if they have any way to prop it up and change the angle.

 

That's dissapointing, I thought a 4 way seat meant fwd/back & up/down, for 40 G's they could have done a better job, especially considering all japs are 5 feet tall, lol, do they think everyone else is 6 foot tall or what?

 

Well, now you've got me wondering. I've never been in the passenger seat when the vehicle was moving; but, I'll check it out tomorrow. My DW is 5' 5" and hasn't said anything about it. Our little Scottie-girl's feet don't reach the floor, so she hasn't complained either. In a high-riding vehicle such as the RDX, I usually lower the driver's seat completely. Then again, we had a Miata for 9 years, so what the heck do I know!

 

Question: I don't have an RDX (sorry), but the '09 also has a 4 way paassenger seat, so does the 09 have the same flaw where the height can't be adjusted?

 

Never mind you guys, I checked the manual and I saw how it works, sucks!
Luckily it won't be much of an issue for me since my wife always ride in the back with our 7 y/o.

 

I was a little concerned about the seat height but it turned out to be a non issue for us. My wife is 5' 5" and hasn't mentioned the seat height.

 

Ask your dealer who they use to install leather seats. And most of those shops the dealers use install many things like sunroofs, heated seats etc. Or your local auto upholstery shop. The dealer probably won't do it because of liability issues.

 

It seems like even tilting the seat up would go a long way. The passenger seat is angled down...

 

I wonder if it would work to buy the slider, controls and wire harness for the driver side and have someone install them - the controller would be upside down - so you'd have to push down to move up...

 

Has anyone raised the passenger seat and if so how?

 

I'll be doing this modification in the next month or so. I plan to raise the front by 1" and the back by 3/4"
I'll post pictures when I do.
Right now my priority is replacing the horrible rear shocks.

 

horrible rear shocks? please provide details....

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rdx-2013-2018-404/clunking-rear-874856/
https://acurazine.com/forums/ilx-382/ilx-suspension-noise-869859/

 

Thanks for looking into this. I too hate the passenger seat angle and height. I wonder if the motor and parts used in the Japanese version could be swapped out with the US version. I would be willing to purchase these part if they would work. Please let us know what you find.

 

hand-filer,

Have you made any progress on the passenger seat modification ?

Thanks,
rnole

 

Wonder if we can swap out the passenger seat and put in a driver seat.


lol nvm i'm an idiot. Controls would have to be opposite.

 

Wonder if you can get the motor assembly and base off a wrecked MDX and stick the RDX seat over it....

 

Does anyone know if the seat height has been corrected in the 2014 model?

 

or the seat from the RHD RDX

 

The first thing you will need are some metric grade 10.9 flange bolts. These are a little stronger than an SAE grade 8 bolt. I ordered mine from Fastenal.com and there was a store near my house that I could pick them up at.

For the front you need an M10x1.25 30mm:
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...Id=&rfqLineId=

For the rear you need an M10x1.25 50mm:
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...Id=&rfqLineId=

I bought a box of 100 fender washers from Home Depot size 3/8" hole by 1 1/2" wide. I used three washers (taped together to make install easy) in the front, and 19 washers stacked under each rail in the rear. The 19 washers gives you a one inch rise. I cut two pieces of 1/4" plywood 2" x 3.5" to put under the front rails. This is all you can raise the front and still line up the front bolts. The bolts are torqued down at 24 ft. lbs.

The plastic covers in the rear pry up with a plastic or nylon molding tool. The front plastic rail trim can be spread apart and slid towards the front.

The first thing my wife and daughter both said when they first got in the car was "this seat is too low". Does Acura use "focus groups" or test marketing at all?

 

I think Acura is only in North America so as far as Acura you would only find LHD ones. As far as Honda thou I don't know. The seat seems different than the CR-V's so that might not be a good fit. I think maybe if you can get the base, motor, and buttons off an MDX passenger side you might be able to attach the top seat to the MDX base motor and rails.

 

wouldn't it be easier to buy a vehicle that has adjustable passenger seats?

 

Yes, an RX-350 like the one I traded in, or a Volvo XC-60 like I was looking at. To be honest, I didn't think it would be that big a deal as the front of the seat was the same height as my Lexus. The back of the seat is a good 1" lower than the other cars. Then again, the Acura was a good $7K less than the Lexus. I did not get the electric tilt steering wheel, 8 way adj passenger seat, roof rails, rain sensing wipers. The saving had to come from somewhere. I do like the car, but the rear shocks are next on the hit list.

 

My solution was to marry a girl 6'1" tall. Also makes the memory positions for the driver seat redundant as well.

 

^^ You lucky lucky man!!!

 

I think for the money being paid Acura could at the very least put in a "pump" style seat raiser like so many other cars have. Should, of course, have a motor driven seat mechanism. There are lots of much less expensive cars out there with fully adjustable passenger seats.

 

I agree completely with everyone about the low passenger seat. Really bothered me at first. A simple solution which has worked for us is I bought a chair seat cushion, about 1" thick (which matches the interior tan color), ran the ties as far as they would go around the back of the seat and tied them together with a string.

Not elegant, but works. We had a 2012 Lexus RX 350 and yes it had adjustable everything, but the ride was so rough and the car handling was way too soft, so I miss the adjustable seat but prefer the RDX in every other way.

 

My wife too has complained that the passenger seat is too low....has anyone swapped out the passenger power slider for a driver-side slider so the passenger could also have the 10-way power seat? The sliders seam to measure the same on both sides.