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2012 Toyota Prius Headrests are hurting my neck!

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by NickNick1, May 5, 2016.

  1. NickNick1

    NickNick1 Junior Member

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    I bought a 2012 Toyota Prius V with 32,000 on it. I am extremely happy with the car. I have already cleaned the Heater core and sprayed the duct system.

    The headrests are making me crazy. I called the North Hollywood Toyota dealership and they all claim that nobody has ever complained about the headrests. I had it. Complaints are everywhere on the net.

    I went down there and took two service guys out there and asked them to sit in the car. I asked them to pretend they were on a 2 hour drive and lean back. Well, their neck concaved and they said "I could see how this would be uncomfortable." GRRRRRR

    They called it a design flaw.

    HELP has anyone had any luck fixing this issue? The only options I have so far are:

    1. Bend the metal posts.
    2. Turn the headrest 180 degrees and add a flight pillow or ?
    3. Take Headrest apart and bend the metal posts from the inside.
     
  2. FroggyTaco

    FroggyTaco Member

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    I'm guessing it would be more comfortable if you weren't wearing a gas mask! ;)

    On a serious note, have you tried adjusting the seat back angle & or the lumbar to see if there's a different body geometry set-up that's more comfortable for your neck?
     
  3. NickNick1

    NickNick1 Junior Member

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    Its a Scuba mask.

    Yes, I have tried every angle. Up and down with the seat. Close up to the steering wheel. Very far back (it's better) but can't drive.

    There are other posts of people actually bending the posts to take away the lean forward. When I was at the Toyota dealership with the service guys, I pointed at other Toyota's. The headrest was straight with the seat. NO lean on any of the headrests.
     
  4. NickNick1

    NickNick1 Junior Member

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    Ok look to see how this guy bent his rods. I am going to do this. That is it....
     
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    1./ A clear case of YCMV, 'Your Comfort May Vary'. We find the headrests perfectly situated and angled for driving and for leaning back and resting. Not sure for which portions of the ergonomic and anthropometric spectrum that applies, but in our opinion, the Prius v human design factors are on the money.

    2./ Great way to ruin a set of headrests (or rocker panel).

    3./ Hopefully never occurs, but should you ever suffer whiplash (or worse) in an accident, and the car be inspected, owner modifications will be raised as a factor in any injury-related claim.
     
    #5 Air_Boss, May 5, 2016
    Last edited: May 5, 2016
  6. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    The best fix is to use a different headrest. I found that the headrest from the Gen-3 Prius was a perfect fit. They turn up on eBay regularly. In fact I still use one in my Rav4 since it had the same problem.
     
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Of course they are not head rests but they are required in cars to prevent whiplash during a rear end collision, which in turn protects your neck and spine. So how tall are you? When you say lean back I assume you mean that the normal driving position does not contact your head? Personally I am 6'3", have the seat back adjusted somewhat lower than some to allow more torso room, but don't have the contact issue you describe.
     
  8. NickNick1

    NickNick1 Junior Member

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    I am a bit over 6 feet. There are two other videos to show the bending of the posts. I would never use a car as leverage. It would mess up the headrest fake leather. I am getting ready to do this during the weekend.
    The design is awful. This is the only car that I have ever owned that had this problem. It was funny how the service guys said there was not a problem until I had them sit in the car. They all said Oh!
     
  9. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    I'm 6' with a long torso. When I sit in normal driving position in my '12 v, my head doesn't touch the headrest. The top of the seat combined with my back seems to hold me away from the headrest. Just back from a 2 hour trip, no issues.

    Were I to have the headrest back further, all that would do is give my head more room to accelerate in a rear end collision.

    Of course, that my body shape has no problems means nothing to your body shape. Individual body shapes vary. A car manufacturer has to design to some average and to test against some "average" dummy height.
     
  10. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    6'4" here and love the seating position and comfort on long road trips.
     
  11. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    I love how people try to convince you there's nothing uncomfortable about the seat. Anyhow, I simply couldn't drive my v for more than 10 min with the stock headrest in it. The Gen-3 Prius headrest was a perfect fit for me in the v. My Rav4 has the same issue but to a lesser degree, but still I got out the Gen-3 Prius headrest and use that with excellent results.
     
  12. NickNick1

    NickNick1 Junior Member

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    I don't understand how anyone could drive long distances completely relaxed in these seats. Even the service guys admitted it.
    They are awful.
    I am borrowing a pair of 5 foot bars. If not, I will get some black 3/4 pipe and Home depot and hopefully not bend it.
    I am not going to use the car made out of mostly plastic to do this.

    I am going to use my friends 3/4 Chevy with a huge bumper. I will be using 2x6 pine and furniture blankets to protect the evil bent headrests to that they will become good headrests.
     
  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I think no one has said there is nothing uncomfortable about the seat. What I and others have noted is "we" don't have a problem with the head rest, which was the OP's primary comment. Personally, I added a lumbar support almost immediately and had used one in an earlier Honda. Obviously my lower back has more curve than some. My head does not contact the "head rest" and I appreciate that it is close enough to do a good job against whiplash. Other's body shapes and heads are clearly different and must be contacting the head rest in normal driving.
     
  14. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Be aware that a Softex covered headrest is about $500 at the dealer. So finding a replacement might be a better idea than breaking the one you have.
     
  15. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    FWIW...on a thread somewhere in this forum...maybe under "what did you do to your Prius" "Japanese aftermarket products", or some other title..... I saw a picture of a set of aftermarket neck pillows that attached to the seats with a Velcro strap (I suppose) just under the head rest.

    If the OP can find that thread, just maybe this is a solution others have come up with.

    Good luck.
     
  16. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    I use a neck cushion pad and they help, especially on long drives.
    image.jpeg
     
  17. FroggyTaco

    FroggyTaco Member

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    Good to know.
    Is that a phone holder tray on the passenger side air vent?
     
  18. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    Yes it's multipurpose. It retracts so it also works as a cup holder.
     
  19. NickNick1

    NickNick1 Junior Member

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    posts.jpg truck.jpg truck.jpg Final.jpg posts.jpg truck.jpg OK, I did it. It is awesome. NO more hurt neck. It is the same angle as all my other cars that I have owned.
     
    LaJay007 likes this.
  20. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Hope you never need its originally designed whiplash protection function.
     
    stormchaser likes this.