Just traded my '11 XLT for a '13, and was wondering if anyone else finds the headrests impossible to live with. You can't rest your back on the seat back because the headrest tilts your head forward until you're looking at your lap. I solved the problem by turning it around backwards (had to do that with my '11 too), but it sure seems strange that I would be the only one with this problem.

 

The headrests in my 2012 ratchet forward. Pull forward on the headrest and it will ratchet forward to the next position. Keep doing it until finally it resets to the full rear position.

Now won't it be silly if it was just that easy?

 

09'.......no ratchet

 

OP has a 2013 ... They do.

In your 2009-case, buy these .....PM if you're interested.

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-click- the pic'
Goth 150
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Wow.... the picture of that 2009 headrest shows how terrible it is!

Perhaps that was a departing gift to Ford when the engineer was given notice of layoff during the economic downturn.

 

Oh they'll ratchet forward all right, but I don't know why, unless it's to give overhead clearance to get them out, because they are waaaay too far forward to begin with. If you hold your head up in a normal position, your shoulders are 3 or 4 inches from touching the seat back.

 

You're posture and sitting position must be radically different than mine.
Out of curiosity, which vehicles have you driven where you like the seating?

 

Kenworth trucks have comfortable seats. I drove a '76 Pontiac Grand Prix for a few years and it was comfortable. The '84 F250 I drove for 20 years didn't kink my neck either. The company I work for up North has a large fleet of '08-'12 F250 and 350's. We just grab one when we need it, and never have I had this kind of trouble with headrests.

 

I know what you mean, my '09 F150 work truck has those crazy angled headrests without the ratchet. The dealer says it's a safety thing to help prevent injury...I don't know how that angle would help.

I was glad my new '13 F150 personal truck had the ratchet style. So you should start looking around for some from a newer model.

 

The only newer model would be a '14!! LOL

 

Newer Expeditions have the same issue. From the 2007+ Expedition Forum, here's the fix for non-ratcheting headrests:

Here is the solution to the headrest problem..

Tools required

2 people
2 pieces of cardboard
one small piece of plywood
one 2ft length of square or round pipe just big enough to fit over headrest pole

Instructions

1. Remove headrests
2. place one piece of cardboard on the ground
4. place headrest on cardboard
5. cover head rest with second piece of card board
6. place plywood on top of headrest
7. have one person kneel on the plywood to hold the headrest in place
8. have the other person slide the pipe over the pole and bend it down about 1/2" or as desired
9. reinstall head rest and enjoy your 2010 expedition

 

All your newer vehicles that don't have active headrests will have an angle like that. It supposedly helps to prevent neck injuries in a rear-end crash.

With that said, when they design a car, they mostly design it around crash test dummies that are about 5'10" tall and 170lbs. If you're significantly different from that it stands to reason you might have comfort (and possibly safety) issues.

 

Most of you are giving solutions for non-ratcheting headrests. The OP has the ratcheting headrest, and is saying even with it ratcheted all the way to the rear he cannot sit upright.

 

Hi, had to laugh when I read this one, thought I was the only one with headrest unrest, HA I TOOK ALL OF THEM OUT OF MY '12 F-150 SUPERCAB YEP, FRONT AND REAR ! it does look weird without them, but it was more of a hazard for me with them in, I am a 5'3" gal and just could not see until I removed them. My brother also has a F-150 and he just took out the rear seat ones .......

 

the headrests are a definite problem for visibility .... no doubt

i removed the rear headrests 2 years ago because i couldn't see around them and i just found them this afternoon.... i wonder if they would fit in the front seats..

might try that tomorrow, i noticed they are much more upright than the front headrests, and smaller in profile as well.

that being said, i do not find them uncomfortable and i'm 6'2".... but i wish they were thinner so that i could see around them.