What 314 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Honda Civic

THE HONDA HEAD RESTRAIN IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND CAUSING A DISC BULGE IN MY NECK AT C-5/C-6. BASICALLY, THE HEAD RESTRAINT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE HEAD FROM INJURY IN A READ-END COLLISION, HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN INJURED JUST BY SITTING IN THE SEAT. HONDA DOES NOT PROVIDE REPLACEMENT HEAD RESTRAIN OR ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTRAINT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE DRIVER THE OPTION TO HAVE A VERTICAL INSTEAD OF FORWARD TILTED HEAD RESTRAINT/HEAD REST.

NHTSA ODI 11119504

THE HEAD RESTRAINT IS UNCOMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SEVER NECK PAIN/INJURY FOR ME. TO PROTECT FROM WHIP LASH THE DESIGN IS DONE IN WAY TO CAUSE INJURY TO NECK. THIS IS REALLY BAD, MANY ARE GOING TO END UP IN THERAPY OR ORTHOPEDICS DUE TO POOR DESIGN LIKE ME :-( *TR

NHTSA ODI 10692234

THE HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THIS MODEL OF CIVIC ( AND OTHER 2012-2014 ), POSSIBLY OTHER MODELS SUCH AS THE ACCORD ARE ANGLED SO FORWARD TO PREVENT WHIPLASH, TO THE ORDER OF -150MM. THESE PUSH THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER WAY FORWARD, FORCING INTO A POSTURE WHERE THE HEAD IS BENT FORWARD. TO AVOID THIS THE SEAT HAS TO BE RECLINED BACK, WHERE IN BACK HAS NO SUPPORT AND THE DRIVER IS BENT LIKE A "C" TRYING TO REACH THE STEERING. THIS HAS CAUSED SERVE BACK PROBLEMS, AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK, NECK AND SHOULDER. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND REPORTED BY MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS, YET HONDA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OR PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE OR SOLUTION. HONDA HAS MADE THIS TO LOOK THEIR SAFETY NUMBERS GOOD , TO COMPENSATE FOR OTHER WEEK AREAS , WHERE THE OVERALL SAFETY RATING INCREASES. HONDA'S ASIAN MODELS OF THE VERY SAME CARS, DON'T HAVE SUCH FORWARD FORCING HEAD RESTS. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES AT A STRETCH AND IT TAKES DAYS TO RECOVER ONCE THE PAIN SETS IN. TOOK THE CAR BACK THE DEALER, THEY SUGGESTED REMOVING THE HEADREST ALL TOGETHER OR TURNING IS BACK, WHERE THE DISTANCE IS AROUND +150MM, WHICH IS NOT GOOD IN PREVENTING A WHIPLASH AT ALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED HEALTH ISSUES, MULTIPLE DOCTOR VISITS, TIME LOST AND ASSOCIATED COSTS WITH THE DOCTORS VISITS AND TESTS. SAFETY IS GOOD, BUT THIS HAS GONE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, TO PROTECT FROM WHIPLASH IS GOOD, BUT THIS DESIGN IS INDUCING PROBLEMS WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS. IT TAKES DAYS TO RECOVER ONCE THE PAIN SETS IN. URGE, SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND FORCE THE MANUFACTURERS TO ADDRESS THE WHIPLASH SAFETY IN A RIGHT WAY, INSTEAD OF CUTTING CORNERS AND TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT, THERE BY AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF THE CONSUMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593945