Uncomfortable Prius v Driver's Headrest

I'm a rehab Pilates practitioner and my husband is a physical therapist. We COMPLETELY understand and agree with the horrible headrests in the newer Prius. Ours is a 2013, and if I drove around without turning the headrests backwards, I've have a miserable neck pain. People who do not have "forward head" posture (more people do have that unhealthy posture than not, pulling their heads forward of their shoulders - assuming shoulders are back in place not forward too ...but for those of us who do not have this postural pattern, we are shoved forward into it just because of how the seats push our heads/necks. That creates a problem where there wasn't one.

I'm looking into having the foam shaved down... or having the rods bent at angle... I think I need to speak to someone at Toyota to understand exactly what happens to the headrests in an accident where they come forward (?) to support the head more? If that is what happens, people without that forward-head posture could have some potentially bad outcomes from the "support" as it would be way, way too much for that person. I'm just so disappointed - our 2008 headrests were so much better - those, when just turned around backwards, fit perfectly for people with good posture.

The other option might be to boost the back of the seat forward with a pillow between the person and the seat back. I'm hoping someone else here as a better idea... I appreciate the safety comments of folks posting here - but the thing is, it isn't safe if it doesn't fit right, and a headrest that does not adjust is not good enough - a head rest is not a one-size fits all kind of thing.

 

Read the entire thread. If you have a Prius-v, the solution is to use a headrest from the hatchback Prius. If you have a hatchback, you're in the wrong forum but odds are that a headrest from another model will suit you.

 

Just realize that if you are unfortunate enough to be injured in an auto accident, a determination by insurers that you have modified its safety systems **could** result in a limited recovery.

 

This is funny, we just bought a new v, both my wife and I were commenting on how much we loved the headrests over the ones in our hatchback. We both have bad posture BTW.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 ? Pro

 

I'm sorry, I didn't notice any difference with the v's headrest set up... if the solution for the v is to use a headrest from the hatchback, wow, the v's headrest must be even more tilted "forward" than the hatchback? Thank you for the clarification - I do think however, that regardless the model, anything that pushed someone's head more forward than it naturally sits is the issue - good people are noticing it. I can't tell you how many patients we get who never notice how that effects them, until they make a change. Often, we just have them roll up a bath towel length-wise and place along the spine to push the back forward to match the forced neck position. For sure, none of this is a one-size fits all topic.

Yep, that is a potential issue... and at the same time, having one's head that far jammed into a position it shouldn't be in (for some people, that position is their natural resting place, but for many it isn't) and then getting a fast/hard jolt isn't healthy.

I think the topic deserves folks who are concerned about insurance recovery - and this is a GREAT point you make, should document a conversation with Toyota and their insurance co so they know... it would be interesting to know what legal at Toyota would say if a customer said it was causing them neck pain to drive around with the headrest in that position... I have no idea how they would respond - I'm sure they might try not to at all... but they might just say, for example, the headrest could be switched out with another style that fits the same rod inserts.

For us, turning them around backwards was a help. It was impossible to drive the other way. Best of luck for all on this!

 

The seats are different in the 2 models. At my height, the hatchback seat and headrest are less uncomfortable than the v is. So yes the v has an even more uncomfortable posture than the hatchback if you're tall. Its the main drawback of the "one fits all" approach to headrests. Absent any adjustment for people of different height and head shape, finding a different headrest is the only option. Turning it backward is a pretty bad idea unless it still manages to touch the back of your head, which is necessary for safety. Adjusting it up or down will work for many folks but not all, as will adjusting the tilt of the whole seat. .

 

FWIW, if anyone is still being bothered by the headrest in the v.
This set of leather headrests on eBay will fix your aching neck.
I can't say for certain that the rears will fit the v, but the fronts do.

 

How tall are you with issues? I'm 6' with a long torso and feel comfortable for 5 hour drives.

 

I'm about 6-1, but I don't think height is the only variable. I just don't tolerate having my head pushed forward all day. I have an oval-shaped head, which might also be a factor.

I also haven't checked out the 2014 or 2012 models to see if the headrests are the same in the v, I'm assuming they are.

 

After 2 months driving my 2014 Prius V, my neck is running about a 4 to 7 on the pain scale. This is insane. I have been stacking padding behind me, trying not to mess up my mid back in the process. Finally swapped out a headrest on my wife's hatchback 4. I'm hoping this will work. I'm hurting so much now it's hard to evaluate. First time ever, my chiropractor couldn't adjust me, I was so locked up with muscle spasm. I wish I could go back and get my Saturn I traded in, and pay the repairs to keep it running. Today I feel I made a $27,000 mistake. Other than that, the fuel economy is great.

 

I think you'll find that the hatchback headrest is suitable. By all means let Toyota know about your experience via their web site. More people need to complain about this.

Any front hatchback headrest from the 2010-2014 model years will be the same fit. There are several available at present on eBay.

2010 Prius FB10 Grey Front Seat Headrest Cloth 71910 47110 B1 | eBay

2010 2011 2012 Toyota Prius Front Gray Leather Head Rest | eBay

 

5' 9" and the PV5's headrests are just fine.

That said, I have a suggestion that should be cheaper than the $500 headrest from Toyota and allow for a visual mod while moving those headrests back a little. Buy yourself new, relatively inexpensive seat covers. Install the seat covers but not the headrest covers. Once installed, these baby's may move your body forward just enough to fix you up. I just installed a new set (including headrests) from Coverking and they fit my V great.

 

question for you all - i own a prius C and i hate my headrest - it causes me some serious grief. are the headrests in the regular prius better? mine are REALLY angled - it looks like it's like 30-45 degrees tilted forwards. wondering if the prius ones will be better? thanks for any help

 

I haven't compared the C, but the hatchback headrest is considerably less angled than the V. Take your headrest to the dealer and compare to both the V and hatchback. Only takes a minute.

 

I had the same problem- I spent the first week of ownership wanting to cry! (My 2007 Prius was SOOOO comfortable, but it was totaled in a very serious car accident.)

I felt like I needed another "tilt setting"- one was too straight, the next too far back. Finally, going with the one that was "too far back" and adjusting the seat higher, I have found the perfect fit.

 

i went to the dealer and looked at the prius headrest - it was less angled than the C as mentioned. that headrest was leather. based on the discussion here, i went on eBay and purchased the prius headrest for the 2010-2012 model - assuming it would be the same as the leather. unfortunately it's not - it actually seems to be the same headrest as the prius c - same angle and everything.

i think the leather headrest is less angled, whereas the cloth headrest is the same as the C

 

More likely you got the wrong headrest off eBay. The hatchback headrests are identical in configuration from 2010-2014. I'm using a pair of leather hatchback rests that are VERY different from the v rests.

 

not sure i got the wrong one - it was for a prius driver headrest, model year 2010-2012...

here's a link to the listing:
10 12 Toyota Prius Front Driver Passenger Headrest Head Rest Cloth Black 13S315 | eBay

you mentioned that you had the leather headrests, so i'm wondering if the cloth one is not the same - since that's what i got. i did notice that the leather headrest at the dealership was much better so i assumed the cloth version was the same...

 

I've used both cloth and leather, they are the same.

 

hmmm - did you check my eBay link? is that the right one?