DIY Fixing Horrible Mustang Headrests For $0 To Resolve Neck Pain

[@rodolfo5651]

i didnt realize that the horrible design messed up my neck for a whole year and gave me severe eye pain. goddamn mustang i ought to sue ford

[@HudsonGTV]

Sue the federal government for requiring manufacturers to angle headrests forward for whiplash protection. "Let's protect the people's neck from a potential accident by guaranteeing they get neck issues from a tilted headrest."

[@HondaFamily88]

These headrests (I know head "restraints") were designed by corporate lawyers who don't care about ergonomics.

[@johnsanford3596]

Nope, don't blame it on corporate lawyers. It's worse than that. Government safety bureaucrats are responsible.

[@mhskomal]

I put my headrest in a 24" Wide woodworking vice, but with the bars in the vice. (Upside down from here) Then I used a crow bar against the headrest pad, with a 10" piece of wood between the headrest and the crowbar. Then I bent the headrest back to a comfortable angle. It worked just fine.

[@ryan6391]

Has to be an easier way, but glad there is a way. I've got a 2013 tacoma and same bad design.

[@tonybrown9582]

Thanks for making and sharing this video. I've been considering options for solving the same issue in my new Toyota Corolla. It's ridiculous how far forward the headrests are.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Thanks for the feedback. It is interesting that the new Corollas have the same problem. Maybe this comment will cause someone with a Corolla to find a video to help them as well.

[@beranfrog]

It’s the one thing I hate about my Rav4!

[@nakinipeace]

I just bought a 2018 Toyota RAV4! I’ve had it for 1 week and it hurts my neck, shoulder, mid back and lower back! The headrest moves my neck too far forward! I love the car otherwise, but I’m in contact with the dealer to sell it back! Or, I might have to sell it privately. Ugh!!! This took several days for me to feel this. Now, whenever I get in my car, I instantly hurt! We have ordered things from Amazon, which are on their way, but the head rest… I don’t know what to do. If I turn it backwards, it’s too far back, and that probably isn’t good enough and there’s nothing to support my neck.

[@OldCityBob]

@@nakinipeace My dad had a RAV4 and I used to either have to turn the headrest around or just remove it on the few ocassions I drove it.

[@nathanielfuentes5294]

Good video. Good points regarding the “active headrest”. The same end result can be had with a towel, 2x4 and the steel bar. No upholstery removal. No foam cutting. 2x4>towel>headrest (face down)>steel bar over headrest bar. Use your foot to gently press down.

[@imoutodesho]

If you recline the seat back more, you get more lower backpain

[@ShelbyBikeBoy]

👏👏👏 Sir! 🫡 I have a 2011 GT500 that I bought a few years ago and could never get comfortable driving it. I couldn’t put my finger on it right away, and thank God I have others to drive. So, in the three years of ownership I have only put 900 miles on it, because of this pitiful design flaw! This has been the subconscious reason all along, for really not wanting to drive it. Well……..after your fabulous tutorial, in about a half hour, they’re cut, bent and re-sleeved. Super clean, nobody will ever know. Thanks for spending the time to post this. 💪🏻 I have a vid of my car on my channel. 😊

[@gregoryblair9810]

It isn't just Ford. 6 months driving my 07 SENTRA and my neck is really hurting, and I haven't changed anything else in my daily routines. Had thought of turning the headrest around, but the catch fails. Thanks for informing people it isn't just them! And I also agree that reclining the seat more is NOT a fix. My arms are now reaching more if I want my feet to work on the pedals. And I first tried adjusting them as I had on other vehicles. Realization set in that mine have no adjustment. Didn't realize it was an intentional design flaw.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Thanks for sharing

[@andyamysarizonaadventures5450]

My 2020 f250 drives Me f... nuts! The headrest are definitely getting adjusted

[@robbynprange595]

I’m the same… unless I’m laying down, the headrest is too far forward. Used the same method on my 2015 outback and will do the same to my 22 outback.

[@ruthanneswanson]

I REALLY need to do this but I don't have a vice. WHAT ELSE can I use. My back is KILLING ME from my volvo seats, its unbelievable how un-ergonomic they are. I wonder if I could bring it to some sort of shop and give them $20 to bend it. Any ideas?

[@mrdiyguy123]

If you prepped your headrests (removed the vinyl covers, cut foam, etc) then went to a small shop with 2 dozen doughnuts at break time you would likely get someone to help you

[@ruthanneswanson]

@@mrdiyguy123 Thats what I was thinking.... so do mechanics have vice grips or would I go to more of a woodworker type shop do you think? I can't live this hunchback life any more!!! Thanks so much!

[@mrdiyguy123]

@@ruthanneswanson definitely a mechanic shop has a machine grade vise. Woodworkers have wood vices which are not at all strong enough to do this job

[@SeeminDeemin]

Go to any auto parts store! There are always vices bolted down to a counter you could do this with

[@rickichase3438]

I just flipped them around. Thank you! That will work much better!

[@MrEpsilonZero]

Thank you. Who designs those things... surely ergonomics and comfort should be big on the list.

[@johnsanford3596]

Federal safety nazis (and Euro safety nazis) are responsible. It's supposed to protect us from whiplash, and it does so for a lot of people. There is a substantial minority of us that find these e'ffed up headrests to be agonizers. The maximum backset (i.e. distance from the back of the head to the face of the headrest) is 50mm (60mm?). That works for people who walk around like turtles.

[@alienjoe6610]

Yeah I have to change my seat when I wear different shoes. A little back if I’m wearing boots and a little forward if I’m wearing non cushioned vans

[@thegroganfamily4488]

I always wear my hair up which puts a few extra inches behind my head and these stupid headrests push my head so far forward that I can’t even see the windshield! I don’t care if it’s less safe to mess with the headrests, I’m not willing to have to take my hair down every time I get in the car.

[@justyouraveragecitizen4379]

I think they adjust these newer headrests for the new gen of kids with forward head posture because of always being on their phones

[@popularship1636]

I thought I was the only one that was complaining about this horrible headrest design 😅

[@mrdiyguy123]

nope... you are not alone on that one...

[@nestoralmonte6691]

I wish to find someone that can help me fix this

[@mabeljoe4305]

Fixing my pain in the neck car head rest ... with a car jack?! - nextmoonyt KZbin Channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooitZZ96frhpibc Video Description: Dec 22, 2016 There are thousands of vehicle owners out there that are getting neck, back and upper torso pains from their head rests. I'm one of those sufferers and today I decided to literally get rid of the pain in my neck by adjusting my head rest position. I'm not suggesting you do the same adjustment. This video shows how I made the adjustment. Basically a few years back, the US safety regulations required auto manufacturers to implement whiplash protection for drivers. That was a great idea! However, car manufacturers decided to implement the requirement in a cheap and quick way. They did this by pivoting the head rest severely to the front behind the driver's head. They used a 6' 2" dummy as the model to design the headrest. Unfortunately, most people don't fall into this exact measurement. For those that don't, they suffer discomfort and pains in the neck and upper back regions. I decided to end my suffering and make a slight adjustment.

[@optimusprime1634]

He destroyed that headrest, blade and all.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Destroyed how? I no longer have terrible neck pain due to the poor original design. My head contacts the head rest (or hovers 1/4" away). I no longer hate driving the car.

[@optimusprime1634]

@@mrdiyguy123 Poor design for sure but the whole blade to the foam and the metal twisting and bending was a torture.