Head rest issues...

[mr.ckent]

First off I own an '06 Ridgeline and love it... My wife and I were looking for a smaller SUV for her to drive and love the exterior look of the CR-V so we went and checked out one of the new '07's at the dealership and were incredibly disappointed with the headrests on the seats. I was amazed at how far forward the headrests positioned the driver and passenger's head. My wife is about 5'6" and the seat had her contorted into a Yoda like hunchback position. I've since noticed a few people driving their new CR-V's in full hunchback position. We tried several adjustments but to no avail. As long as the headrest exists in it's current form, we won't be buying a CR-V. Has anyone else run into this problem or know if Honda is planning a design change? Seems like the seat was over-engineered and they forgot to have an actual human being try it out...

[Tarhead]

We just returned from a 2000 mile trip visiting family for Christmas in Florida and Louisiana and drove our new 07 CR-V EX-L. The headrest was not an issue for me. I am 6'3". My comfort issues are the height of the driver's right armrest which caused me to have my right shoulder up and the curve in the console which crowds your right knee if you're long legged like me. The driver's seat and headrest fits my 5'4" wife perfectly (it should...it's her's:) ). Otherwise it was a very comfortable ride.

[2RedV's]

I doubt a design change is in order - it is designed to move up and forward in the event of a rear-end collision to help prevent whiplash. I have seen parts diagrams of the headrest system and it is a really neat design.

[connermt]

First off I own an '06 Ridgeline and love it... My wife and I were looking for a smaller SUV for her to drive and love the exterior look of the CR-V so we went and checked out one of the new '07's at the dealership and were incredibly disappointed with the headrests on the seats. I was amazed at how far forward the headrests positioned the driver and passenger's head. My wife is about 5'6" and the seat had her contorted into a Yoda like hunchback position. I've since noticed a few people driving their new CR-V's in full hunchback position. We tried several adjustments but to no avail. As long as the headrest exists in it's current form, we won't be buying a CR-V. Has anyone else run into this problem or know if Honda is planning a design change? Seems like the seat was over-engineered and they forgot to have an actual human being try it out...

I noticed it too. I work for Honda (specifically with the seats of the truck, CRV, accord & civic). It has a lot to do with safety (whiplash protection); the less movement back your head has in a rear end collision (or front one for that matter) the less likely you are to get whiplash. Many newer cars have the same thing done, albeit a little different design style. It only took me a few minutes to get used to it; I tilted the seat back a little more back , which allows me to keep my head relatively parallel with the road.
Although, I have heard that people with pony tails seem to have a very difficult time....

[sassycutefishbug]

I have a 07 CR-V as well, and me and a few of my passengers have found the headrest position to be somewhat annoying too. And as a female, if I wear my hair up in a clip or a ponytail, I am constantly whacking my head.

Also, similar to what someone else posted, the armrests are somewhat high, even for a woman who is 5'6. I would have preferred adjustable-height armrests, or at the very least, armrests that are about 2 inches lower.

[2RedV's]

From the Honda Service News, March, 2006 regarding head restraints...
(I added some emphasis)

"Headrests” Are Really Head Restraints

The common term “headrest” muddles its true
purpose. It’s not a comfy place to rest your head
while driving or riding. It’s really a carefully
designed head restraint that helps protect you
from neck injuries if you’re in a rear-end collision
at low to moderate speeds.
Each head restraint is specifically designed for a
particular vehicle model to meet Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Here are some
dos and don’ts to keep in mind when dealing with
head restraints:
• Never switch a head restraint from one
vehicle model to another.
• Never alter a head restraint in any way,
shape, or form.
• Never install a head restraint backwards.
• Never let a passenger ride in a seat without a
properly installed head restraint.
• Always refer to the appropriate O/M to
properly adjust a head restraint.