xdaily

The headrest makes you crane your neck forward in the seated position:

A) you look like an idiot
B) its really bad posture

What I did was I flipped the headrest completely around which is better but still kind of uncomfortable. Im I alone in this?

xdaily

OK then I guess I am alone in this lol

(Japanese Engineers) "All american have bad posture we design accordingly"

winstrolvtec

Depends on size, shape and stature, etc. For some their heads don't even touch, others have your experience, many in the middle I would assume. Try raising the head restraint as described in the car manual, mid point of your head and mid point of the restraint should align. Others have dropped it down completely and clear it altogether which is of little safety benefit.

Also recline the seat as much as needed, push the base forward to compensate as necessary, tilt and telescope accordingly. If this creates too little entry and exit space, if no one else drives the car, simply program the other driver memory to an entry and exit like position, use it getting in and out, simply press your actual position when you enter. It may help to keep the seat base in a well declined position from my experience, but that may vary.

Some have reversed as you have, others have purchased different vehicle head restraints in the Acura/Honda line that have also worked. Neither is the most effective safety measure and neither a good idea if an insurance adjuster has to come out to look at damages and/or injury claims and you can't/don't change back in time, plus whatever might be in a police report.

Stew4HD

I am tall, so I tilt the seat back a bit, the head rest hits me in the middle of my head and is quite comfortable for me. I can comfortably lay my head against the headrest and keep my eyes in a good, forward looking position.

xdaily

My 04 wasn’t like that. Reclining the seat would make the angle worse in my case. I’m really surprised there isn’t an adjustment designed into it.

docboy

OP, you are not alone in this headrest feeling. A number of posters and people I know have complained about the TL's headrests. It's part of Acura's design to improve crash test safety and scores, and unfortunately at the expense of comfort. My wife doesn't like my TL's headrests at all, complains about it every time she rides in it.

I recall one posters replaced his 4G TL's headrests with that of the 1G TSX's.

It doesn't bother me that much b/c my posture is bad to begin with me and I tend to drive with my head hunched forward. But I can see how it can be uncomfortable though.

xdaily

Flip the headrest around for her I bet she likes it better. Glad Im not completely alone, thanks.

xdaily

Just read some people are bending the bars EEK....and the 3rd Gen TL headrest arent compatible

ucf_bronco

iTrader: (1)

This is actually the first car where the headrest touches my head, and I like it. I recline my seat a little more than the average Joe so the design is perfect for me.

07Acuradude

On my MDX my wife will flip around her headrest for long trips so you are not alone.

xdaily

Bet the next Gen is adjustable.

This Gen would fit the dude on the right just perfect!

Mr Marco

It's a fucking stupid bitch.


If you're a chick...it's only because you are small and cute. Otherwise nevermind.

EDiT: Annnd further more, this is what the test drive is for.
My HVAC guy tested out the TL, hated it for driver comfort. Then tested the Maxima. He was so happy he bought it on the spot. Hence the reason why you must take these factors into consideration when you decide on buying the second most expensive item in your budget.

xdaily

I think I missed something...

vucelick

I feel your pain. My car was basically undriveable after a little while in the seat. Some folks were saying "adjust the seat angle, you are not sitting correctly bla bla bla" There was no way any adjustment brought any relief at all. So as some folks suggested, I bought some accord headrest and they worked fine but i did not like the look of them, so I tweaked the metal posts in small increments and now the car is driveable and the headrests are just fine. I need to unload the accord headrests just got to take the time to list them.

xdaily

I may get up the guts to bend the posts. Probably only take a few inches.

potmilkz

make custom post.. its not hard to take apart the headrest and mod or make your own slanted post.. afterall. its just a metal rod with ridges cut on it.

KeithL

I actually like the way Audi does it on the A6 where you can adjust the head res from to back.

weather

I must say that I never had any complaints about the headrest....in fact, I have never had any issues with any of the Acura seats, from both TSX I had and the TL and RDX.

Ruby

Hate to burst your bubble, but the TL is designed, engineered and manufactured in the United States. Has been since the first TL.

Ziffle

I think this must be a height issue. I am 6'3 and the headrest is perfect for me. And no I don't have terrible posture. Seat all the way back and down and somewhat reclined. Fits perfect.

For those of you that don't like the position, how tall are you? I'm just curious why some love it and others hate it.

weather

^^ I am 5'11 (ish), slim (very slim actually) and not a bad posture either

Stew4HD

6'4 here.. perfect headrest fit for me

LawnPro

The headrest is perfect for me, I can use it when I want and still feel focused on the road.

If it was further back - I would feel as if I had to tilt my head back too much.

tal822

I just brought a 2010 also. I agree the headrest is a little awkward but not as bad as my feet hitting the plastic panels above the pedals when braking and accelerating.

Litt

No man. I hear you. I had the same issues. I totally agree. With the 4G headrest, it pushes forward way to far forward and forces your head to hunch forward.

I bought a black leather headrest from a 3G TL and it fits perfectly. It's way better. problem solved. Any 3G TL headrest or 2006 type honda accord headrest will fit in the 4G seat.

get a headrest off Ebay. problem solved.

Heres an old thread.
https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-2009-2014-123/head-rests-720842/

JT4

^^ My wife's ML350 has this feature on the headrests and it works well.


While I can understand how the headrests could be uncomfortable to some they haven’t really bothered me. If they did I would try your fix. Good idea..

BTW – OP congrats on your new TL.

xdaily

The sticker said 60% was made in the US and Canada. The headrest must fall in the other 40%, just kidding idk just bustin em.

xdaily

6'

xdaily

Thank for the info!

docboy

I'm 5'11" - Headrest again doesn't bother too much, though I do feel it "too far forward" and it is very firm if I rest my head back against the headrest the slightest bit

My wife is 5'1" - She hates the headrest

hadokenuh

For me, the headrest bothered me at first but I adjusted the seat to recline further a bit. Now it's comfortable.

winstrolvtec

It's also a matter of head position, not necessarily having anything to do with posture, etc. That's why the recline and decline positions are important because they force your viewing angle up which creates a natural tendency to drop one's head, giving the added clearance necessary in this design, whereas if one is sitting too flat, straight, or inclined, you want to raise your head for viewing which only makes things worse in this case.

xdaily

talk to any chiropractor, your head is supposed to sit on top of your shoulders not in front of them. Check the diagram above. I know it’s a pain and it’s easy to let it fall forward but thats how you get a humpback in old age.

Stew4HD

SO, riding in the 4G can cause someone to be hump backed? ** cough **

xdaily

yup lol grandma here would love the headrest

Stew4HD

alrighty then

winstrolvtec

You misunderstood, it's as simple as pivoting your head up and down, it's the joint motion, both up and down, has nothing to do with your neck's position, that can remain as normal. In the diagram, if the seatback were reclined and the seat base declined, and you therefore lowered or dropped your head for viewing angles, not your chest or neck, that would eliminate "most" of the problem, in the photo example and depending in real life. Now whether or not that is comfortable for someone, that is another story.

If at that point one needs the chair to be closer, you move it forward, if need it higher, move the chair position higher but not necessarily the seat back and base angles.

Stew4HD

I am going to go to Notre Dame

xdaily

lol

vucelick

you will be surprised how little you need to tweak the posts, they are actually curved, take a small amount of the curve out all along the post and you will not believe the difference it will make, the headrest will still jut forward, just a bit less. Pm me and I will tell you how to do it and send you pics of mine. There is no amount of seat angle/height/cant adjustment that will make it tolerable. It takes a less than 5 min to get it right.