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power drive seat comfort 2009-2010 models

9K views 32 replies 19 participants last post by  Natedog 
#1 ·
Anyone else having trouble getting comfortable in theses seats? For me it isn't an adjustment problem but something with the bottom seat cushion itself, specifically the bottom of my buttocks down to the bottom of the upper thigh and up the side of the leg a bit in the same area after a long drive that area of my leg feels numb. I though it could possibly be that I have my right leg extended when driving but even if I sit in the car with both my feet equal distance apart on the mat my right leg starts to feel a bit numb. Anyone else experiencing this and what did you do to correct the problem? thanks.
 
#6 ·
I read those threads but I don't have any of those issues. My back/lumbar is fine, don't have any issues with leg room and I'm 6' 1", don't have any issues with the p-brake pushing against my leg, and the head rest is fine. Best I can explain it's like the right side of the cushion is harder then the left side
 
#8 ·
I had this problem too, my old seats were like wearing sweats. Not alot of support they just fit. And the new seats are like wearing new jeans. They look good, but take some time to break in. The nice thing is that you have so many options to adjust them to. I definately like the lumbar support. Give it time I am sure they will break in :)
 
#9 ·
I've had back issues since my early 20's and now in my mid 50's I have good days and bad days. In the approx. 4K miles I've driven my ride the drivers seat has worked quite nicely.
Even on those bad days, while driving I can usually adjust the controls to find a good seating position. The seats are firm but comfortable, kind of remind me of the nice seats from my '01 Passat.
Check this site out, have a good selection of seats cushions. Welcome to DrivingComfort
 
#10 ·
I'm 58, 6'-7 (2.0 m) and 265 lbs (120 kg), and I too have suffered back pain problems since my 20's. :icon_frown: I find my Forester's driver seat to be uncommonly comfortable. On Saturday, May 1, I dove home from Pointe-Claire (Montreal), QC: 638 miles in 11 hours, including stops for customs, gas, meals, and bio-breaks. No issues with discomfort. :icon_cool:

Best of luck to you!
Jim / crewzer
 
#12 ·
UPDATE: I'm almost at my first 3000miles and the seat is still very uncomfortable for me I sometimes drive over 100 miles a day and I'm constantly adjusting my seat, I don't think I've driven more then 10miles without touching the adjustment controls. But only on my right side, it's like there is something under the right side of the bottom cushion that is putting a bit of extra pressure on my right sit bone and a bit down my thigh. If I press down hard on the cushion with my thumb I can feel a sort of nub on the areas in question it's like its hitting right on a nerve because when I get out of the car right leg feels slightly numb. If I press down on the left side I also feel a nub but for some reason it simply doesn't affect my left side I didn't take measurements the left side nub isn't symmetrical with the right and therefore isn't applying pressure in the exact same spot. It would be like if you sat down with a marble in your back pocket, just not as obvious. When I'm sitting in the car I don't necessarily feel like I'm getting poked but it's that slight uneven pressure that after a couple of minutes it starts getting uncomfortable. It's not about the softness or firmness of the cushion although perhaps a firmer cushion that didn't compress as much might have helped so I wouldn't be compressing enough to get to that nub. I recon if I was a 5' 6" >120lbs Japanese man the seat would be perfect but I'm a 6' 1" 185lb American (and I'm considered slender)

Anyway I was considering bring it in to the dealer and asking them to investigate these nubs. I'm going to guess and say there going to tell me there's no issue with the seat and I'm the only one they've gotten a complaint from :rolleyes: So does anyone have directions to remove the bottom seat cushion? Or does the entire seat need to be removed? I would like to see if there's anything I can do about the problem too. thanks.
 
#14 ·
I'm old and have regular back pain due to an incident involving a clumsy jump off a 55 foot cliff into water. No, alcohol and drugs were not involved...I'm just dumb and clumsy.

In most cars, I have to use a back cushion to get reasonable long distance comfort. But the Foz is not one of those cars. I'm OK in it. Have only traveled about 260 miles as a trip distance but have done that 4 times.

I just went out and gave my driver's seat a good feel. Mine seems to be symmetrical between the right and left sides of the lower cushion. There is something that feels like a spring about 4 inches from the front of the seat that seems to run across...but it feels the same on both sides. I just couldn't notice any difference from side to side but I don't know specifically where to look or feel. And since we're on different sides of the country, you can't easily try mine.

I'm not a big guy (5' 8 and 180 ish) so that might make a difference in the comfort a factor.

Suggestion: Go to a Subaru dealer and check out a new Foz with a power seat and see if has the same "nub" as yours does. That might indicate whether the problem is unique to your car or if the stock seat just isn't going to work for you.
 
#15 ·
I don't know if this is of any help at all, but the leather seats in general seem to be a bit firmer than the cloth ones, meaning that you won't "sink" as much into the seat and are less likely to feel any of the seat internals.
 
#16 ·
I'm 28 no issues with sciatica. Someone mentioned that the bottom cushion abnormally slopes down on the bottom cushion. Another thing I notices is that I can raise and lower the front of the bottom cushion but when I try to raise the back of the bottom cushion the whole seat raises up and sort of moves forward at the same time. I wish I could only the bottom cushion to raise up with everything remaining still.
 
#17 ·
The behavior you mention has been my experience with every power seat I've ever used from a 92 Buick Park Avenue Ultra (talk about seats!) to a '99 Accord, '05 Accord, and my '10 Legacy.

I don't find the seats uncomfortable at all. However, I do find the need to bucket them out a bit. What I mean by that is, I put the rear of the bottom cushion all the way down, bring up the front of the bottom cushion about halfway, and then adjust the back cushion to comfort.

This gives me good driving position and great comfort. I'm 5'11", 230lb, 26, no back issues.

I noticed that on a 2-hour long drive, if I didn't do the above, my knee hurt when I got out of the car.
 
#21 ·
I have an update. I spoke with a Dealership today about the seat comfort problem. He said the best he thought I could do was upgrade to the Leather seats. He didn't think buying OEM seats was a good option, because in the 2010 Forester, there are side air bags built right into the seats and they would have to fit exactly on the rails, hook up correctly to the heated seat system. I think I will try seat bottom-only cushions first. Does anyone find the Leather Seats more comfortable than cloth?
 
#22 ·
I have leather seats and haven't tried the cloth seats, but I definately have trouble getting comfortable. What truly amazes me is that some people have absolutely no trouble at all with the seat comfort while others are dying a slow death.
 
#23 ·
I found the driver's seating position fairly uncomfortable until I fooled around with the adjustments on the seat and steering wheel and found the 'sweet spot'. Now the Sube is as comfortable to drive as any other vehicle I've owned.

OK, maybe not as comfortable as the driver's seat in my old Buick Riviera cruisers...but the stock Sube seat is definitely acceptable for me.
 
#29 ·
I brought my Forester in for it's 3750 oil change and checkup and I brought up my concern about seat and showed her the "nub" that was poking me. Thankfully that's must not be normal because she ordered me a new bottom seat cushion!! I can't wait until that comes in!
 
#30 ·
I just had my front driver's seat modified and I couldn't be happier. The shop extended the seat bottom and softened it up a bit. In addition they physically moved the seat back 3-4" which helps out with the leg room. For forum members in the Chicagoland area it's called Midwest Autotops and Upholstery located in Orland Park. They do excellent work and I highly reccommend them.
 
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