Is it just me with these seats?

[swede]

With my daily commute to work I spend an average of 2.5 hours a day in my car. I've had my new 2007 Yaris sedan for a week now and I am having the hardest time getting comfortable in the driver seat! My back is sore when I get to work and my back is sore when I get home. I have spent a lot of time during my commute moving the seat up, down, back, forward, every which way trying to get the right spot and its just not happening. I don't know if its just because I'm not used to it yet? But it feels like the lower back support is pushing way out beyond where its supposed to be and there is no adjustment for it. I have been driving for almost 15 years now and I even went on YouTube to watch videos of how to adjust your seat properly.

What I want to know is if I am nuts or if anyone else has this problem? My wife took it to work one day on a much smaller commute and she said near the end she could start to feel it digging in her back.

So far I love the car, my last car was a 2002 Hyundai Accent and driving the Yaris is a real treat, but I had no seat problems in the accent.

Any suggestions?????

[salmonz]

What's your height? I'm over 6 foot and in the 07 Yaris Sedan I just moved the seat back as far it goes and recline the seat a little bit back. I felt really comfortable. Now only if the Yaris had heated seats like the Corolla, your back could get some heat to take away the soreness.

[CrankyOldMan]

I ended up getting a lumbar back support thingy (http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Sales-PosturePro-Lumbar-Support/dp/B000AP0HY4) to help with my lower back pain issues. I've also found that wearing a knit cap causes my head to hit the headrest in an awkward way. Other than that, I've gotten very used to it. Getting a short-throw shifter also helped with the distance I have to reach to comfortably get into 5th gear.

[kimona]

I find my HB seats very comfortable... even on long trips.

[Nanook]

I find my HB seats very comfortable... even on long trips.

Me too, I like the lower back support. My other vehicle is a 2010 Jeep Rubicon, now those seats are uncomfortable.

[nemelek]

There ok. After all this is a economy car.

[CTScott]

What's your height? I'm over 6 foot and in the 07 Yaris Sedan I just moved the seat back as far it goes and recline the seat a little bit back. I felt really comfortable. Now only if the Yaris had heated seats like the Corolla, your back could get some heat to take away the soreness.


I never found them uncomfortable, but I installed Clazzio seat covers, which add some padding and also seat heaters. The seat heaters really make a huge difference when driving long distances in the cold weather.

[OTA'sTOY]

well first of all you've had it for only a week
secondly its used and its had the seat contoured to the previous owner for like ......3+ years....give or take
so of course if you aint shaped like the old owner it will not be comfortable intill you "remold" the seat to yourself
i myself like my "S" model seat more than my base model it has a more racey contour compared to the base flat feel
fyi both were bought band new

[swede]

I hope your right and I am just anxious. I am only 5'7" so I don't know if that matters. Maybe I will look into some seat covers or something like that!

[Highway Star]

I'm 6'.1" with a 34" inseam, and my 2dr rs seats are quite comfortable. I lean the seat back a little more for a little extra more arm room.

Maybe search CL or a wrecker for a set of rs style seats. Or better yet check out a dealer with a used rs model, and take it for a test ride to see if there is a difference.

[DebbyM46227]

My back doesn't bother me in the Yaris, it's my rear end. I can't go more than 100 miles, these seats are killers.

[bronsin]

Perhaps the seat is dammaged somehow. You might go to a junkyard and get another drivers seat out of a late model wreck.

Sit in it first and compare it to yours.

Good Luck!

(Perrsonally I think I nailed this one folks) :headbang:

[pholmes350]

@ DebbyM46227 My 2007 sedan seats are killer also. I've owned this car since new and in the past year the driver seat has become a source of pain. Feels like the foam is giving out in the lower back and seat. Guess so after 147k miles.
Oh yea, check those junkyard seats for glass and bodily fluids before you sit in them. Thats what is usually left behind after a wreck.

[enviri]

my HB seats suck too. it gives me back and leg pain over long trips. Clazzios fixed that right up!

[greyg00SE]

Drove to South Florida.. about 1000 miles each way. This made it bearable.
Purchased at a thrift store for 98 cents.

[DiCaprio]

well this thread has been dead for almost 6 year, but i appreciate that you posted, because i suffer from back pain too, when driving a lot with the Yaris. These seats definitely don't have enough lumbar support.

[greyg00SE]

:biggrin:...thought it would be better to resurrect than start a new thread..

[David C]

It's only after changing the driver seat in my 2007 2dr HB that I noticed the stock seat used to give me back problem, I thought it was related to my work, but in less than a few hours in the new seat (2007 VW Rabbit), my lower back doesn't pull anymore when I stretch. The main reason I changed was to gain height adjustment and get rid of my bottom feeling flat when spending more than 4 hours straight in the car.

I'm about to leave for a 600 miles trip, straight 11 hours of driving, and look forward being all comfy in my car with the subwoofer pushing good vibes trough my seat :thumbsup:

[YAR1S]

I went on a 3,000 mile roadtrip last summer in mine from North Carolina to California stretched the trip out over 7 days.... so about 400-500 miles a day. My back KILLED me the entire time. I took lots of breaks and ended up getting a memory foam seat cushion which helped with the numb butt issue but otherwise lots of middle and lower back pain. these are definitely horrible economy seats not meant for long trips.

[Yaris874]

The best thing to do switch seat to the vw gti seat fit perfect wayyyy much better go further back the the yaris plus have high adjustment

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

[ern-diz]

I've made multiple 4 hour trips in my Yaris over the last 9 years and can't say I experienced any more discomfort than in any other car I've taken long trips in, but everyone's body is different.

I'm thinking the best thing to do is replace with a nice set of Sparco seats. Fashion and function!

[heeroyuy01195]

Can't say I've ever done a 3000 mile road trip but on 4 hour trips I was good. Anything more than that and I started to get uncomfortable but tolerable. I don't think these cars were really made for one shot long distances. Seems more in line with city driving and running errands all day where you get in and out of the care periodically.

[ern-diz]

Can't say I've ever done a 3000 mile road trip but on 4 hour trips I was good. Anything more than that and I started to get uncomfortable but tolerable. I don't think these cars were really made for one shot long distances. Seems more in line with city driving and running errands all day where you get in and out of the care periodically.

No doubt, but there are a couple regular forum members that have made some serious road trips in these cars and I don't recall them mentioning discomfort. If memory serves, they commented on how comfortable the cars were over the trips. As I said before, I think it depends on the individual. Different shapes/sizes, etc.

My sister is a stylist and I can't get comfortable in the washing chairs, while my better half is super comfy. I don't think it's a one size fits all thing with any car seat.

[Type-Y]

I've had my 2007 Yaris hatch for a little over 2 years and find it to be comfortable (I'm 5' 9").

[scratchpaddy]

The seats feel just about right for me. I've done a one-shot 1,200 mile trip in them, twice, and didn't feel bad at all. I'm 6' and 150lb.

[Pizzaboyracer]

I drove cross country twice this year ,I'm 6 ft and I'll be getting new seats for the next trip but other then that car is great only spent 189 bucks on gas from Ohio to Oregon

Sent from my SM-J327P using Tapatalk

[Pizzaboyracer]

So if you do drive a lot put your spare gas money in to your seats your butt will thank you . My friend did the same trip in his v6 mini van and won't tell me what he spent after I told him my gas numbers .he still thinks I'm lieing or mistaken lol

Sent from my SM-J327P using Tapatalk

[scylla]

Having cruise control makes all the difference with comfort on long Yaris runs. I shift my seating position a lot. Install cruise if you don't have it.

[Pizzaboyracer]

I'm working on it now

Sent from my SM-J327P using Tapatalk

[dogsridewith]

Pushing the butt back into them occasionally, to keep the lumbar curve they have engaged, may help. (This also affects how much the seat supports the legs.) Don't assume seat back angle and fore-aft adjustment should be what you are used to in prior vehicles.

[07liftback]

I went on a 3,000 mile roadtrip last summer in mine from North Carolina to California stretched the trip out over 7 days.... so about 400-500 miles a day. My back KILLED me the entire time. I took lots of breaks and ended up getting a memory foam seat cushion which helped with the numb butt issue but otherwise lots of middle and lower back pain. these are definitely horrible economy seats not meant for long trips.

I actually bought one of those lower lumbar support cushions just because these seats were so bad! There is absolutely no lumbar support compared to the civic I used to own. I find that on long trips, the back of my right foot heel gets super sore and I'll need to reposition my foot constantly just so I can cope with the pain. The gas pedal is positioned at quite a steep angle and I never had this issue with my old civic.

I looked into replacing these seats but then I'd be losing the airbag feature. Don't think it'll be worth the risk if I get T-boned in the future.

[dogsridewith]

Not enough seat support under the forward portion of the right leg, particularly w/o cruise control on trips, requires more muscles tensed up to hold a throttle position...w/ consequent body aches from foot to back. On my 89 Tercel, I put some washers under the front seat mount feet. Also placed a small folded towel under the right leg.

For seat pads of rigid recumbent bike seats, I cut and assemble 1/2 inch blue Walmart camp pad for all sorts of wedges, lumbar curves, full covers, headrests and area thickness adders. Cut w/ long sharp thin "bread knife" (?) or scissors. Dap Weldwood Contact Cement to assemble and add such as 3/4" not-stick-backed Walmart Velcro. (Can make multi-layer shapes w/ ramp edges, but simple stepped edges aren't felt.) My body doesn't like some plastics, but I have no reaction whatsoever to this stuff...sorta warm cozy feel, actually. And it imprints at the pressure points...maybe something like "memory foam?"

[invalid username]

I spend a lot of time trying to adjust my seat to be comfortable, too. I've wondered if the seats were designed to be uncomfortable on purpose: to make people move up to the next model. I love the gas mileage, though.

[Kalispel]

I spend a lot of time trying to adjust my seat to be comfortable, too. I've wondered if the seats were designed to be uncomfortable on purpose: to make people move up to the next model. I love the gas mileage, though.

The SE version seats are fine - no complaints here. Very comfortable and snug.

[invalid username]

I have the SE, too. Sometimes, my Mom drives it, and she doesn't like the seat either.

I did a Lot of research on cars before purchasing this one. I feel that the positives of the car outweigh the seats: No GDI, No CVT tranny, proven engine/tranny combo, 4-wheel disc brakes (SE), good air conditioner, and good gas mileage. I, also, have a 1991 Geo Metro (auto tranny) that gets good gas mileage, but the Yaris gets, actually, a little better mileage and has more power.

[AtoyotA]

Love my 07 sedan but front seats start killin us after an hour or so of travel. Previously had a 2000 echo it too had firm basic seats that would never wear out and we could go two or three hours no prob. anyone tried the post 2012 seats? Wondering if theyll work with the seat belt and airbag sensors.

[greyg00SE]

FREE seat protectors for Yaris Hilton 😁

[Flubby]

Took me forever to get all of the settings right, but I got there. Do your best and eventually your back muscles will get used to it even if it is not perfect.