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Subaru seats

11 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2012 at 3:10 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Outback, Interior, Sedan, Wagon

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#1 of 11 Subaru seats by billd12

Oct 01, 2012 (7:40 pm)

I have yet to find a post on this subject but I'm desperate enough to start asking around. I'm one month into a new '12 Outback, after previously purchasing a '12 Forester and trading up to the OB. Both cars have proven (to me at least) to have the worst front seats I've ever encountered in any car I've driven in nearly 30 years of driving. The adjustments on the Forester were limited to forward and backward, but even with the power adjustment on the OB, I'm having all kinds of back problems (including likely sciatica problems) that I've never experienced before. No amount of seat adjusting, or extra cushions or pilllows, does anything to fix the problem. I'm facing a visit to the chiropractor to investigate the cause, but everything seems to point to the dang Subaru seats. I'm not at all unusual in my body type/frame/weight, so this is incredibly frustrating, especially since the OB, and even the Forester, are otherwise good vehicles and had everything I need at a good price. Any feedback is appreciated.

#2 of 11 Re: Subaru seats [billd12] by xwesx

Oct 02, 2012 (9:26 am)

Replying to: billd12 (Oct 01, 2012 7:40 pm)
The power adjustable seat is, I believe, a ten-way setup, which means you can do quite a bit to adjust your ride height and angle. I find those two features to be the most useful when improving my comfort. Many folks talk about firmness and lumbar support as major issues for them, but those things have never caused me problems as long as I get the height, angle, and head rest set properly. Even the manual adjustable seat has the height adjustment feature for the driver.
 
The electronic controls are highly intuitive. Just grab the finger-contoured adjuster on the forward side of the seat, and pull up (or push down) to the height you want, then tilt forward or back as you like. I find that fairly high, with a tilt toward the steering wheel, works for me. Also, the best setting for those adjustments may not be what you initially think is the most comfortable.
 
Also, if you carry a wallet or anything in your back pocket while you drive.... stop doing that! Your back and hip both will thank you! The more bolstering the seat has, the more a wallet impacts me.
 
Finally, and this moves away from cars altogether, if your back is bothering you on a regular basis now, try moving away from sitting for long periods at your job (or at home). Years ago (2006), I started using a ball chair ("Sit-A-Round" from a company called Jobri, but I don't think they make that style any more) for a short time and my back started feeling better after the initial adjustment/strengthening period. After a couple months of that, I went to a standing workstation (with a stool for when I want to sit) and haven't had a lick of back issues since then.
 
The biggest benefit I have found, other than less fatigue and no back pain, is that my body is far more tolerant of car trips now. A six or seven hour trip to Anchorage was torture for me in the past, whereas now I can make the trip in comfort, or minimal discomfort by the end, and am fully recovered within only a short time (overnight sleep, etc).

#3 of 11 Re: Subaru seats [xwesx] by ateixeira

Oct 02, 2012 (9:43 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Oct 02, 2012 9:26 am)
I move the wallet for the front pocket when I drive. Especially with well bolstered seats.

#4 of 11 Re: Subaru seats [xwesx] by billd12

Oct 03, 2012 (6:15 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Oct 02, 2012 9:26 am)
thanks for the reply. I'm not sure if this is just a matter of adjusting to a new seat over time, and I long ago stopped sitting on my wallet. It just seems that the coincidence of a new car and these sudden back and leg issues is odd. I even wonder if the problem is maybe not the seats but some other aspect of car. I've noticed a steady vibration, especially while idling, that I've not noticed in other cars I've had. Would the all wheel drive cause this?

#5 of 11 Re: Subaru seats [billd12] by xwesx

Oct 04, 2012 (9:30 am)

Replying to: billd12 (Oct 03, 2012 6:15 pm)
It is probably not coincidence; it always takes the body a while to adjust to a different car... though I prefer when it is not a painful transition!
 
I don't think AWD would, by itself, result in increased vibration. The engine does vibrate more at idle than an inline because it is naturally balanced (horizontally opposed cylinders) rather than using a weighted balancing system. I haven't noticed increased vibration at speed, though, which I would think is where most drivers spend their time. That said, I also don't deal with a crawl-style commute. If you do, maybe it is impacting you.
 
With no small amount of irony, I tweaked my back on Tuesday night. I am now reminded why I went through so much effort to reduce/eliminate my back pain when it was chronic! There's nothing worse.

#6 of 11 Re: Subaru seats [xwesx] by billd12

Oct 04, 2012 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Oct 04, 2012 9:30 am)
thanks again for the input. I do spend a good deal of time in stop and go traffic. In fact, today I did quite a bit of it and I'm having more noticable back and leg issues. Also, I'm realizing that the angle of the seat cushion, which isn't fully adjustable (only the front thigh support actually adjusts) is planting my butt so deep into the seat that the circulation to my legs is affected - and my hips. Sad to say but I'm getting close to giving up on the subie. I hate to take another financial hit but certainly can't afford permanent physical damage. I just wish that problems like this were more widely circulated.

#7 of 11 Re: Subaru seats [billd12] by easypar

Oct 05, 2012 (6:39 am)

Replying to: billd12 (Oct 01, 2012 7:40 pm)
I can (almost) feel your actual pain. I'm 64 and when I got my 2010 Legacy the seat really hurt my lower back. To the point that we started making more frequent stops on road trips. As the car has over 60,000 miles now we have put a lot of road miles on it. I found a small ish lumbar support in a thrift store and tried it and it help a lot. Prior to that I had kept a rolled up towel positioned at just the right height.
 
A few weeks ago we got my wife a 2013 OB and the seats are quantifiably BETTER. The lumbar support on the driver's side is close enough to the one in my old "work" car-Mercury Grand Marquis and slightly better than my wife's '04 Lexus RX (traded on the OB). On a recent 2400 mile road trip I left the padded thingy home and was well pleased. Even when I was in the pax seat I noticed no problems.
 
I'm so impressed with the difference in ride and handling; even over the 2012!
 
easypar

#8 of 11 Re: Subaru seats [billd12] by xwesx

Oct 05, 2012 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: billd12 (Oct 04, 2012 6:28 pm)
I just wish that problems like this were more widely circulated.
 
Unfortunately, issues of comfort vary widely from person to person. When an issue is not universal, it doesn't tend to circulate widely. Hopefully you are able to arrive at an agreeable solution, without the financial hit!

#9 of 11 Subaru Outback Passenger Seat height by jetpilot767

Nov 23, 2012 (3:15 pm)

I have a 2013 Outback Limited. The passenger seat is too low for my wife and we have not found a comfortable seat cushion for her. Does anyone know if there is a way to raise the seat height i.e. with shims or adjustment?

#10 of 11 Re: Subaru Outback Passenger Seat height [jetpilot767] by ateixeira

Nov 26, 2012 (9:09 am)

Replying to: jetpilot767 (Nov 23, 2012 3:15 pm)
I wanted to do the same for our Forester but the seat track appears to be riveted on rather than screwed on.

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