I do have one question for you. When you test drove the vehicle...how long did you drive it for? A lengthy test drive should have revealed this problem...which then should have removed it from your buy list. I have learned over the years...yes...I am that old...that when it comes to my final choices I ask for a lengthy test drive...it may be my second or third one with the vehicle...to cement my choice. If they refuse my request I say adios and move on to my next choice. Some dealers don't like long test drives...still can't figure that one out since they are trying to sell the car...

 

Unfortunately almost all new cars that I see have these problems. My last car (VW) had it and I solved with buying some rear headrests from an older VW and using them reversed (which were essentially vertical). My wife's old Saturn SUV had it and her current Nissan had it. I think some cars are worse than others, but I have largely resigned myself to the notion of it's a problem that needs to be solved after buying (as opposed to finding a car that doesn't have the issue).

Again, the point of my post is to find how others have dealt with the issue, not to discuss my buying process or other side issues.

 

Mine were bent a little forward when I bought the car. If you fold it all the way forward, it'll pop back to the 'neutral' position which is as far back as it will go.

 

Oops. Forgot to mention that they are already adjusted as far back as they go. Hard for me to imagine how anyone could drive with them in any other (more forward) position since they are still ridiculously forward.

 

If you can afford to lose a bit of legroom, try moving the seat forward just a bit and then tilt the seat back. A few degrees of tilt really moves the headrest out of the way. That's what worked for me.

 

Hmm, if I were going to bend the posts I would wrap them in tape, and find a bench vice large enough to grasp both posts at the same time ( or rig a jig out of some boards to extend the jaws). Grasping up near the padded headrest itself, Steady body weight pressure on the headrest should allow you to bend them a bit. The headrest posts are usually hollow, so don't bend too far or they could fold. I might be tempted to try some heat, but that could damage/change the finish.

Another idea is to use a press and bend them a bit like the pic I found below on a mustang forum.

http://www.pbase.com/740weapon/image/135135038.jpg

 

My passenger side was stuck in the forward position when I first bought it- finally figured out to push back- I agree- still feels funny. If you absolutely can't live with them all the way back that they can go- you may want to find a machine shop that has an industrial press- I think it's going to be a bugger trying to bend those. Good Luck!

 

Whilst that allows your head to be more level with respect to the road, it doesn;t change the forward tilt of your neck with respect to your spine, which is where the neck ache comes from

 

Dave, did you ever find a viable solution? Did bending work? I'm in same boat and looking for a solution...

 

Is removing the offending rest not an option? Simply park it/them on a shelf?

 

If you are thinking of bending them maybe you should check salvage yards for a used set before you destroy yours.

 

+1
Agreed about that option for a first project. Thats a good option and maybe a couple more too.
I'd like to add my .02cents.
1st......2 Cents worth of cord that is! As long as the posts fit, and the foam compresses enough under pressure, the following might work. The foam is normally dense, but if you wrap it with strong fine cord while under compression, perhaps that would give you an extra 1" of space. To make it look good, you'd need a matching fabric to cover it. That would be an easy pouch shape for anyone you know that sews. Shouldnt cost much.

2nd....A more " professional look" would be accessing the excess foam from the bottom.
Cut, shape, customize to your heart's content. I've not taken one apart, but can't imagine why you couldn't replace or shape the foam by yourself. If needed you may have a friend or family member who has basic sewing skills.Try it out. When perfect, close off the bottom.....or the seam if going that route. If not sewing, remember the bottom won't likely show. I've used Goop (every version) on fabric, and that holds up well if you clamp it and it doesn't have a nonstick fluoride treatment.
If it were me, I'd take my time and give it a try....maybe on a scrapyard one first if the back seaters are different. Go for it.

There you go, a customized headrest! !

 

Pretty much any new car has the issue of headrests (yes, I know that they are called "head restraints" but I like "headrest") that tilt significantly forward which causes neck pain for some drivers.

I know this is old but didn't see any follow up or other solutions anywhere... Did you ever bend or find a solution? I need my headrest to match my seat angle. I have been getting by with narrow foam pad on the seat back (helps alleviate forward shoulders) and rolling up a towel behind my neck... not ideal, but standable. I hate to resort to driving my truck more that has a straight angle all the way up the seat, but that seat feels great. Thanks

 

I have the same problem with many seats in newer cars. I can just about tell by looking at a headrest if it is going to give me neck pain. I had been using a small pillow for my neck, I think it was one of the My Pillow travel pillows, and that worked pretty well. I recently picked up a memory foam Therapedic Neck Roll Pillow from Bed Bath and Beyond and that has worked well and it holds its shape better. I mostly just use it on longer drives and I may try to rig up something to hold it in place when I get out of the car.

I've been tempted to bend the posts but being a leased car I don't want to mess with it.

 

No one likes the "West Coast lean" in a Subaru Outback?

 

I recently drove a relative's 2010 Outback and noticed the same thing. I would have to do something about that were it my car. I'm not familiar with the later models but if they're similar to my 2003 OB, the support rods feel like solid steel (not hollow). I'm sure they can be bent but I don't think the chrome plating will take kindly to it. I would expect it to crack and peel in high strain locations of the bend.

 

I bent mine using a 2x4, a piece of plywood, towel and my car/car jack. Similar to the photo posted by another user (see below). I also bought a new one first from a Subaru parts site just in case I broke it and in case the person I sell to in the future prefers the original headrest. Fixed the problem for me!

 

Any pics of it installed back in the car?

 

Here's a video using a car jack, you have to skip to like minute 8 to get to it. I'll upload some photos in a bit.

 

Here's a photo of the original and adjusted headrests. I suspect you could bend it even more, but this solved my neck pain problem. Buying the new replacement (for selling the car) cost me about $65.

 

My neck hurts just looking at that before picture. I don't know if I will do this to mine but it looks like it would help. The head restraint rarely bothers me in my normal daily driving, but after any longer period of time it just kills my neck. I've gotten so used to using the neck pillow I bought for that purpose that I don't know if I need to take it further.

 

1st

 

Hi All, can anyone with a 2016-2019 outback advise if this suggestion in the YouTube vid

works?

Cheers,

 

well yes, they do adjust in that manner. Some people want the position farthest to the rear of the car to be even farther back (more perpendicular to the ground).

 

Hi everyone, there is a much simpler solution than bending the headrest ... you can adjust the body position!!

check this out! solution

 

I had tried the hydraulic press, but couldn't get it right. I ended up with a similar solution that has been a life saver. The YogaBack has made driving much more comfortable, both for my neck and my lower back. The thoracic support really makes a difference.