Horrible seats pain in hip

if she didn't take my class action suit advice, she's definitely not going to turn her headrest around.

 

Long time ago I had a Mazda FC RX7 base model, with the seats basically flat, not much lumber and booster support what so ever. Ended up I swapped a pair of the FC Convertible leather seats, worlds difference! It isnt really the leather, but the seats are just giving me the wrap around supports I want. Even the seat bottom has an extra cushion at the front to give full support the the thigh. And for my AE86 I went with AW11 late model seats, sitting posture is a little bit higher, which was what I liked about them.

I didn't really look around for seat upgrades for my Gen 3 three, I feel the driver seat is good enough, only complaint is head rest, but as Rebound mentioned, can be fixed easily with that thing turned around LOL!

 

In all seriousness - if the seats are really hurting you, wouldn't it be worth the money to get ergonomic seats installed, rather than replace the car? I don't know if there are any other ergonomic aftermarket seats out there, but these Recaro's are very adjustable, and can be installed in almost any car: See and Feel the Difference - Style XL - RECARO Automotive

 

I'll admit my ignorance about this possibility.
But the reason I don't automatically make this recommendation, is that I think car seats today are so integrated into the design safety of the entire vehicle. Airbags, Side Airbags, Surrounding Frame.
If you can convince me that switching out the seat isn't reducing the safety? Then I think it's a perfectly great option.

With my only secondary concern being the possibility that you could switch the seats, at some expense and find yourself just as uncomfortable.

Over the years, lots of posts about The Prius seats.
I guess I've just become shell shocked to the point where I feel if the easiest solutions aren't acceptable or working? That is cushions or adjustments, seems you're kind of out of luck.

Also seems like there just is distinct camps. Those that very quickly find problem with the seats. Those for which the seats are acceptable, and probably a minority that actually just like them.

For me The Prius seats were acceptable. Not the best I've ever had, but not the worst, and luckily not painful.

 

The guy who came with me on a test drive said that I can turn my headrest around -- without my even complaining about it -- and then let me know that doing that would promote whiplash if I ever have an accident. I didn't even ask him or mention discomfort. This should have been a tip that there is some kind of pain that people get from these seats. I totaled our first Prius and suffered from a tibia plateau fracture in the process. I have subsequently lost at least 60 per cent of the feeling in my feet due to attempt to replace my knee. I also have a broken foot and two broken vertebrae in my lower back -- all from one accident. So I probably need a comfortable seat. All that being said, i did not notice a problem when I was doing the test drive. I still have not bought.

 

I'm glad I found this thread. We just bought a 2013 Prius II, and after driving 3 hours have experienced hip pain for the first time in my life. (Mind you, at 57 I'm exeriencing lots of pains for the first time, lol!)

We've been renting cars for 2 years, all sorts of small cars, and never had an issue driving this exact 3 hour route.

I'm going to try reversing the headrest. AND my wife wants heated seats: I may try getting heated lumbar-support seat cushions. And I'll try cruise control.

And I'll monitor this thread. I LOVE our new Prius, and I want it to work for us. Body issues are a deal-breaker though. My body is worth a hundred Prii to me.

 

Personally I think the prius seat is fine, I drove on it for 14 hours straight and I had no problem with the seat. In contrast, I drove a 2000 honda accord on the same trip and I had horrible back pain. You can't really expect toyota to design a seat that will fit everyone because people come in from all sizes AND everyone sit differently. I drive for a living, about 9 hours a day, 5 days a week and I have no complains about the seats.

Calling for a class action suit is silly, you can't expect the seats is fit everyone. I know an elderly couple with the same prius and they have zero complaints about the seats.

Try adjusting the seats, when I first drove the Prius I was sitting incorrectly and had backpain every day, someone commented that I leaned too much toward the steering wheel so I adjusted the seats back and the pain is gone.

 

Hi KennyGS, we are nearly the same age, nearly the same weight, and your exercise routine is nearly the same as mine!! Oh, and I am the same height! As for the seats, I did an hour and a half trip yesterday and yes, the seats suck! But I am biased, due to the fact that the Scion XB from begining to 2006 was the best car for long distance driving. Ask anyone who owns or owned one! I could drive over 3 hours and not feel a thing when I got out.

 

I am 55 yrs old, 6' 4" tall and my 2014 Prius 3 is by far, the most comfortable car I have owned. I average 35 to 40 thousand miles a year. Anytime I drive a long distance or get stuck sitting for a long period, I move my wallet to a front pocket.

 

I've driven a 2010 and 2014 for 6+ years now... 50mins each way to work. The seats are not good in my opinion. Always been my biggest complaint with the car. They are ok (JUST OK, not comfortable) going to work each day. But if i take trips longer than an hour or so its very uncomfortable. I'm only 33, and my first prius was at 27...so its not an age thing... I just feel they should have done better designing a hybrid car with great MPG giving it better seats... love my prius but the seats suck.

 

i wonder if all car forums have a thread like this.

 

I've noticed that too. My lower back gets very tired and painful after a couple of hours drive. My 50-minute commute everyday isn't bad but long drives is what gets me.

I got really spoiled during the thanksgiving weekend driving a new 2017 Audi A4 as a rental and I never had any problems driving up north to the redwoods from San Francisco for 10 hours round trip with only a few stops for gas and food. Actually, I was not physically tired at all. Mentally, on the other hand, I was drained.

 

I totally agree, and am disappointed at some of the condescending replies here about it being "just fine" (instead of "just fine for me") and blaming it on other folks' body conditions. While the seat may be "fine" for them, it's not fair to assume anything further about those of us who *are* having problems. Many body types, many varying results, obviously. But my result is a direct, immediate comparison from one model to the next.

This is my third Prius (first a new 2002, then a 1-year-old 2009, now a 1-year-old 2014 Prius v Model III). I went from being in my 2009 (she was killed by a deer) with GREAT, comfortable seats, to the 2014, and immediately regretted it the next day when I realized I couldn't find any comfortable position--even though I turned the headrest backwards like I do in other vehicles. While I already had a lower back issue before the transition, it was only mild. I needed a new car to get out of the rental after the accident, and felt the strain from the seat right away, but kept on going along, hoping I would somehow "adjust" to it, also thinking I was the only one having the problem.

Then yesterday I started reading here about so many others having this issue. The first part of the main question was "Any solutions...?" So that's what I'm also seeking. My dealership says they can't/won't modify the seats, when I asked about possibly finding some 2009 seats to switch out. Does anyone have a constructive suggestion about how this might be done? I love the car, hate the seats, and also totally doubt that any seats in the newer models of other types would have reverted back to more comfy ones of 2009, even if I did want to upgrade. Of course, my husband wants me to switch to a BMW for their comfy seats, but I can't afford their hybrid pricing and I'll never buy anything less than a hybrid (dreaming/planning for a hydrogen car one day).

Thanks.

 

It absolutely does help--I do that in every car I ride in.

 

Yeah. But talking about a class-action lawsuit because the seats don't suit a certain person is also overreacting a tad.
No one is stopping you from buying a different seat or a different car.

 

My first suggestion would be to find an auto reupholstery or auto customizing shop in Leavenworth to work on getting your seat more comfortable, using the 2009 seats you like as a pattern. (I did a quick search - the shops are out there). This would be the easiest way to get better seats.

Buying a used 2009 seat and installing it in a 2014 would remove some of the airbag protection, and could be a really big project - possibly even bigger than getting a gen3 model five motorized seat and installing it. (Something I'd dearly love to do, by the way - just about the only thing I miss on my Volvo was the power adjustable seats with three memory settings - being able to easily adjust seating positions is invaluable on long trips)

Almost anything is possible, if you spend enough money on it. Other people on this forum have retrofitted different seats into their Pri's. The dealer won't do it for liability issues, but you can find a customizing shop that will.

I try to look at it this way - I'm planning on owning my car for about 10 years. I look at the cost of the upgrade, divide it by 10, and ask myself if I'm willing to spend that much a year for ten years on it. For example - putting one of the better aftermarket Recaro seats into my Prius would cost about $4,000 installed, so I have to ask myself - would you spend $400/year for ten years on more comfortable seats? In my case the answer is no, but it might be different for you, or anyone else.