Seat Comfort

[bvs999]

Picked up a 2024 Limited around a month ago, and am trying to figure out if I potentially have a defective sear or am in the minority and find it super unforgettable.

Didn’t notice much on the test drive, but really ever since then find the seat bolsters push into my kidney area and the seat lumbar, (adjustment is all the way flat) pushes aggressively into my lower back. I have never had back problems before, but even on short drives I am getting out of the car sore.

Passenger seat is objectively softer, which I don’t know if that is normal or not.

Anyone else find the seat unforgettable or am I in the minority? Don’t won’t to take a huge loss on the thing, and love everything else about it, but can’t envision keeping if there is not a defective sear in the seat.

Thanks

 

[kryichek]

I've found Ford seats to be uncomfortable in the seat area not the back for years. My 99 F-150 still has the most comfortable seat I've had in a vehicle. I could drive that for hours and never feel like I need to get out. Our Explorer and Expedition are different stories. 45 minutes and I'm squirming. I actually use a seat cushion which helps tremendously.

 

[NevadaGeo]

I'm no "Princess and the Pea", but I find the front seats of my '23 Limited to be MORE comfortable than what I had in my '17 Limited, and those were very comfortable. IMHO, the cushioning and support is perfect for my back and bottom!

 

[Christina S]

Is there a side zipper on the seat? Might be an easy fix for the service techs to reposition or replace the cushions. I have a 24 Platinum and seats are "lux leather trim" w/o massage. The materials are stiff and uncomfortable. Lumbar has to be all the way flat so it doesn't push into my lower back. I reasoned that the leather and vinyl would soften over time and it's still too new with 884 miles. My 2019 Explorer Sport had comfy seats but it had 17k miles on it when it was purchased. I love driving mine so my husband is the passenger and any time I complain about my seat he says the passenger one is great.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Well, as the saying goes: "they don't build 'em like they used to"

Cause all the seats (well, except for the 3rd row anyways) in my '011 EL are pretty comfy, even on 500-1k mile trips....

Not saying it is the MOST comfy vehicle I've ever driven, but definitely in the top five.....

Our '12 Caddy CTS 4 was #1 by all accounts, but that's a different class of vehicle, which is more tailored to creature comforts, but just sayin....

Our old '00 Cherokee was the absolute worst that I can remember, regardless of what pads, cushions ect we put in it, it literally killed both my back & bottom too

 

[rallyhard]

I love the lumbar support in out ‘22 Timberline. I keep it all the way humped out, cause my back is screwy and always needs tons of lower support. The bottom of the seat is all right and pretty comfy for long drives. I sat in a newer Ram Bighorn pickup with the other day and man was it firm. It felt nice for the moment I sat in it, but it might put the butt to sleep on a long drive.

The problem with the seat in the Expy is the springs in the bottom are starting to do this little pop when I shift my weight in the seat. I can feel them move around when they pop and it reminds me of an old worn out couch we had when I was a kid. I’m not a huge guy at 200lbs, and we’re at 32k miles. I’m hoping it doesn’t get any worse.

 

[DieselMonk]

I am pretty particular for seat comfort. I wouldn’t buy a car / truck where I couldn’t sit in it all day to make a 1200km trip and able to get out not hurting.
While Ford is not the most comfortable I’ve been in, I say it is in the top category still. In my case I am very happy with the Expy.

 

[SilverStealth]

I'd go sit in some other on the lot, just to see. Might be a bad build with that seat. Otherwise, an upholstery shop may be able to adjust the foam by shaving/adding.

 

[Left Coast Geek]

i find the seats in our 19 expy stealth as comfortable as the seats in my wife's 2016 Mercedes E350 wagon, but I like firm seats.

 

[Southpawhd]

I have found the seats to be pretty comfortable. However, they are a little narrow, so if someone is a little wider, I could see how the side bolsters would be bothersome.

 

[DieselMonk]

I have found the seats to be pretty comfortable. However, they are a little narrow, so if someone is a little wider, I could see how the side bolsters would be bothersome.

Try driving a Toyota 4Runner, I swear the seats are made for lil girls!

 

[22TL395]

I have a 22 Timberline. Driver seat is great, very supportive for my 6'-4" - 260# frame.
What I can't stand is the non adjustable headrest. I would like to be able to move it a touch back so my head isn't pitched forward.
Anyone know if an adjustable headrest is available as a direct swap?
I would be willing to pay to reupholster it to match the Timberline leather.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

However, they are a little narrow, so if someone is a little wider, I could see how the side bolsters would be bothersome.

Sooo... in other words....

"BOB's" need not apply



psa: if you don't know what "BOB" stands for, please DM me & I'll be happy to explain it, that way I won't risk offending anyone in the open discussion or gettin slapped by the mods !

 

[Left Coast Geek]

Try driving a Toyota 4Runner, I swear the seats are made for lil girls!

Try a Mazda CX-5 :-O The seat bolsters were so narrow my wife's legs were completely asleep and numb after a 5 minute test drive.

 

[AJ82]

Anyone know if an adjustable headrest is available as a direct swap?
I would be willing to pay to reupholster it to match the Timberline leather.

Ford removed adjustable headrests on the lower trims somewhere around 2020 (upper trims still had it I believe for at least a year or two after that if not longer). Regardless my wife was in the same situation and we purchased a used one in perfect condition from eBay which works great and matches our seats color pretty closely. You want to look for one with the slots underneath the headrest so you know it is adjustable forward and backward. Here is one I found real quick on there. Could be better cheaper options available.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[sjwhiteley]

Ford removed adjustable headrests on the lower trims somewhere around 2020 (upper trims still had it I believe for at least a year or two after that if not longer). Regardless my wife was in the same situation and we purchased a used one in perfect condition from eBay which works great and matches our seats color pretty closely. You want to look for one with the slots underneath the headrest so you know it is adjustable forward and backward. Here is one I found real quick on there. Could be better cheaper options available.

Pardon Our Interruption...

A bot OT, but why?? I have the adjustable headrests in the 2019 and can be positioned perfectly to the back of the head to help prevent head/neck injuries in the unfortunate situation of an accident. Why would they remove such a safety feature? (This is kind of rhetorical…I’m pretty sun I know why)

 

[AJ82]

A bot OT, but why?? I have the adjustable headrests in the 2019 and can be positioned perfectly to the back of the head to help prevent head/neck injuries in the unfortunate situation of an accident. Why would they remove such a safety feature? (This is kind of rhetorical…I’m pretty sun I know why)

Can't say for sure but something tells me it was to save money

 

[SilverStealth]

I have a 22 Timberline. Driver seat is great, very supportive for my 6'-4" - 260# frame.
What I can't stand is the non adjustable headrest. I would like to be able to move it a touch back so my head isn't pitched forward.
Anyone know if an adjustable headrest is available as a direct swap?
I would be willing to pay to reupholster it to match the Timberline leather.

Yep, I picked up a set of 2019's from a member on the Forum for exactly the same reason. Much better now. And even the leather matched.

 

[LanceExp2025]

Hi 22TL395:

Yes! I know exactly what you are saying about the 'newer' headrests poking your head and neck forward. (very uncomfortable!) We were driving a 2012 Expy EL and that one didn't do that. When we went looking to buy a 2024 Expy Max Limited, we almost decided we wouldn't buy a new one because of these crazy, uncomfortable headrests. (mostly because of me being 6') Them we drove a 2024 one that WAS adjustable and it was great! We soon realized that this adjustment was due to them both having the entertainment screens in them for the 2nd row passengers to watch. We bought that one, even though we have absolutely NO USE for the screens (nor spending $1995 for them either). But we love our new 2024 Expy MAX Limited. It is so comfortable and easy to drive. We just LOVE it!

I did read (on this Forum, I think??) that someone else had pulled his 2 headrests out and had someone put the legs in a vice, one-at-a-time, and straightened the legs-bends out straighter.

I also read that someone said the 2018 & 2019's Expys had adjustable headrests that rock forward to release, swing back, then ratchet forward to 2-3 settings. So, I called a couple of salvage yards that had 2018's for sale on eBay and both said their sets, that they had, were FIXED/non-adjustable. (don't know if different models make any difference, though??)

So, I am thinking that even if you could find some adjustables with screens in them (at a reasonable price) that your 22 Timberline upholstery wouldn't fit anyway, because the screen ones are fatter, front to back. You would most likely need to buy a yard of matching leather material to have them match your seats (costly?). It seems like so many folks are complaining about these Expy headrests that some after-market company would make and offer replacements? But I have not heard so, on that either. When I was sniveling about my head being pushed forward to our local Ford salesman, he said that headrests were a DOT safety requirement and thinks that is why nobody has come up with adjustable replacements. Sounds possible? Don't know? Lance

 

[Left Coast Geek]

huh. front headrests on my 2019 Limited 'stealth' are adjustable.



now, I'm 6'0 tall with a relatively long torso and short legs, and I've never felt the need to raise the headrest a bit.