[Carsmom]

I finally gave up my '01 grand prix and got an '09 Outlook a few weeks ago. I am 5'9" and cannot get the headrests in a position where they don't bump the back of my head. Feel like I always have to have my head forward to avoid this. So, turned the headrests around (which is not safe).

Has anyone else had this problem?

Also, having a heck of a time finding the "sweet spot" position for driving. It is VERY different from my car and I cannot seem to get comfortable.
Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[HockeyMom]

I have the same problem with the headrests - I'm 5' 10". I feel like my head has to be pitched forward. And forget about putting my hair in a ponytail! I tried putting them backwards too, like I used to do in my Equinox. But in the Equinox, when the headrest was turned around, it still provided a flat surface straight up from the seat back. The Outlook headrests drop back away from the seat, I'm sure that wouldn't be safe in a crash, so I put them back the right way. I'm suprised more people haven't complained about it. Maybe everyone needs to see a chiropractor? All of their heads already pitch forward so they don't notice? I keep my headrests in the lowest position possible, so the top of the headrest is below my skull, then I can at least put my head straight up. I'm sure that's not going to help in a crash either. Are there any aftermarket headrests that are straight, instead of curving forward, I wonder?

 

[Bruce_Lee]

I don't know what you guys are talking about.

Don't take offense, but may be it is you who need to see a chiropractor?

I've had my '08 outlook for over a year and if anything, I would say the 'headrests' are pitched/leaned back, and not forward.

Anyways, I don't have a problem with it. It is similar to my previous cars: 2002 Nissan Quest, 93 Honda Accord and 2000 Dodge Ram 1500.

I am going to check out the new Camaro. I will see how the headrest are positioned on that beauty.


BL in San Francisco (home of the import lovers)

 

[doropallo]

I also find the front angled headrests a little uncomfortable, but they are a Federal requirement, so they aren't going away. You can search for aftermarket replacement parts that are within the guidelines but are comfortable.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, neck strains and sprains (whiplash) are the most serious injuries reported in 30-40 percent of auto insurance claims. Such injuries cost at least $7 billion a year in the U.S. alone.

The prevalence of whiplash injuries in low-speed, rear-impact crashes - and the high medical costs associated with such injuries - have prompted government safety agencies to mandate new anti-whiplash standards. For example, a new U.S. requirement takes effect on September 1, 2008 - the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 202a (FMVSS 202a).

 

[Tim]

I noticed this when I bought my car over a year ago.

Reclining the seats just a bit more than I had in my previous car took care of it.

Though, I do notice on bumpy roads that my head will start bouncing on the headrest. I use it as a sign I’m going too fast. Slowing down stops the bouncing.

 

[khansen30]

Pull the head rests our and turn them around. Some like it and some don't.

 

[eelfliw]

I have the same problem. The head rest is too far forward. I'm beginning to wonder if the factory installed the headrest backwards.

The solution I found was to put a pillow behind my upper back and incline the seat back a bit more. This keeps my upper body as straight was it was before the seat was inclined more but effectively moves the headrest back further way from the head.

 

[Carsmom]

I did turn the headrests around, but I don't think that is safe if I were to get in an accident. I do see a chiropractor so that is not my problem. I like keeping my seat more upright for better posture & in doing so the headrests are not comfortable.
Someone posted looking for aftermarket ones....any suggestions on sites to look on?

 

[eelfliw]

I did turn the headrests around, but I don't think that is safe if I were to get in an accident. I do see a chiropractor so that is not my problem. I like keeping my seat more upright for better posture & in doing so the headrests are not comfortable.
Someone posted looking for aftermarket ones....any suggestions on sites to look on?

If you're willing to go to the expense of getting an aftermarket headrest, then have you tried to take to an auto upholstery shop to see if they can shave the foam inside the headrest?

I had something like this done to my motorcycle seat. Shaving the foam lowers the ridges in the seat and makes it fit better. The same concept may be applied to headrests.

 

[corkyg]

My wife recently bought an '09 Outlook. I am incredibly surprised that this is the only forum where I can find this discussion.

The headrests in these vehicles are ABSOLUTELY too far forward. I'm 5'11 and have an "anatomically correct" curvature to my spine. It feels like these headrests force your head into an unnaturally downward-angle when in resting position. The only way I can fix this is by (a) leaning my seat WAAAAAY back, or (b) putting a pillow behind my upper-back (as suggested above). Neither of these options feel appropriate to me while driving the vehicle.

I have turned the headrest around, and that felt unsafe. I have also replaced the front-seat headrest with one from the back-seat, but that also felt unsafe. The way these headrests are installed, there doesn't seem like a simple and easy way to fix the problem.

I have contacted a local auto-custom shop & upholstery shop, and am hoping they can modify these headrests into something more comfortable. If anyone has any other suggestions on how to go about fixing this, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[khansen30]

My wife recently bought an '09 Outlook. I am incredibly surprised that this is the only forum where I can find this discussion.

The headrests in these vehicles are ABSOLUTELY too far forward. I'm 5'11 and have an "anatomically correct" curvature to my spine. It feels like these headrests force your head into an unnaturally downward-angle when in resting position. The only way I can fix this is by (a) leaning my seat WAAAAAY back, or (b) putting a pillow behind my upper-back (as suggested above). Neither of these options feel appropriate to me while driving the vehicle.

I have turned the headrest around, and that felt unsafe. I have also replaced the front-seat headrest with one from the back-seat, but that also felt unsafe. The way these headrests are installed, there doesn't seem like a simple and easy way to fix the problem.

I have contacted a local auto-custom shop & upholstery shop, and am hoping they can modify these headrests into something more comfortable. If anyone has any other suggestions on how to go about fixing this, please let me know. Thanks.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102614&highlight=headrest

 

[corkyg]

Great. I'm glad you were able to point me to another message board on the subject.

With the same lack of info and no helpful suggestions on how to fix the problem. hno:

Next.

 

[admin]

corkyg - Actually, the link that khansen30 provided did have 2 pages of conversation and discussion, as well as a few solutions to try regarding the exact problem that you mentioned here. If you didn't find it to be helpful to you, then that's fine. It's no reason to berate the person who took time to at least TRY to help you with a problem.

To summarize - Your options appear to be to turn the headrest around (which may or may not be a safe option) or look for aftermarket replacement headrests. What other possible solution are you searching for?

 

[khansen30]

My first ignore button push - corkyg.

Thanks for taking my back admin, and watching for this stuff.

 

[corkyg]

I believe an apology is in order. KHansen - I'm sorry for the tone in my last response. That was uncalled for. I'm getting really, really frustrated with this situation, because no one seems to have any real, productive answers with what I can do, and I let out my frustrations on you. Please accept my apology, and let's start over.

I read every single word on the other message board, and there's not a concrete helpful solution. Admin mentioned 2 options - turn the headrest around, or look for an aftermarket replacement.

As you can see in my original post, I have already tried turning the headrest around. It feels unsafe, and the gap between my head & the headrest feels WAAAAAY too far.

As for an aftermarket headrest - I have looked for no less than 8 hours online trying to find one, and I'm just not finding it. I guess I really don't know where to look, or how. None of these message boards mention a suitable replacement, or a specific place to purchase them. :banghead:

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to purchase a suitable aftermarket replacement headrest?

I have taken my car to a local custom / upholstery shop to see if they could re-shape and customize the headrests. I was told that there was nothing they could do. Ugh.

If anyone knows a solution to this, please let us know!
???

 

[khansen30]

I believe an apology is in order. KHansen - I'm sorry for the tone in my last response. That was uncalled for. I'm getting really, really frustrated with this situation, because no one seems to have any real, productive answers with what I can do, and I let out my frustrations on you. Please accept my apology, and let's start over.

:thumb:

See if you can get a matching head rest from an 07 or 08. My 07 Outlook I had had a smaller headrest (shorter to be exact) and was okay. The ones on my 09 Acadia are taller. At first I didn't like them, but I put them a little higher so that my head hit in the middle to upper middle and they work much better. They seem to be a little softer and in just the couple of months I have had it, the have molder a little to my head and are comfortable. I don't know but the head rests may be different on each model and one of them might work better. I would go to a lot and find different ones and try them out, of course I am reffering to the Lambdas. I don't think the colors are going to vary on the interiors. The titanium grey on my Acadia is the same shade as the grey on my Outlook.

 

[corkyg]

Final verdict and final result:

I took the 2nd row headrests and placed them in the front row. They're just a little farther back than "ideal," but they work well and feel far more natural to my neck, with room to move around.

NOTE: Since I have child carseats in both 2nd row chairs, I had to remove the 2nd row headrests anyway. However, when my kids get older, I'll likely have to purchase an additional set of 2nd row headrests.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice.
- Corky

 

[Zubius]

Why hasn't anyone just bent the rods 5 degrees, reinstall and see how they feel then?

Mine will be done tomorrow.. :cheers:

 

[BigTallV]

Final verdict and final result:

I took the 2nd row headrests and placed them in the front row. They're just a little farther back than "ideal," but they work well and feel far more natural to my neck, with room to move around.

NOTE: Since I have child carseats in both 2nd row chairs, I had to remove the 2nd row headrests anyway. However, when my kids get older, I'll likely have to purchase an additional set of 2nd row headrests.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice.
- Corky

It would appear there is now yet another solution at our disposal. Nice idea, thanks for sharing it!

For those folks searching for a replacement headrest, there are several if not many DVD headrest units on the market for the Lambda platform (leather or cloth). E-bay has a pile of them listed. If you're going to swap out your headrest(s), you may want to consider tossing in some entertainment for the kids.

Regards,
/BTV

 

[AustroTom]

Re: Headrests-SOLUTION!!

Hello All,

New to this forum and already love it!
We bought our '09 Outlook just 2 weeks ago and the first thing my wife hated were the headrests. So, after reading all the posts in this and the "other" forum, I pondered a little over this situation and found a solution: Although it helps being an artistic metalsmith, the fix is rather easy! Take off the headrest, clamp it in a vise (one leg at a time), and start bending it backwards. It takes quite some force, but then again my professin helps ;D Result: Straight headrests from the base up!

Problem solved. Next..... :cheers:

Thomas