ellent

Try lifting the head restraint, putting a lumbar rest between the head restraint and the top of the seat. That way you keep the safety feature but the head restraint can't flex the neck (because of the lumbar restraint) and you keep the safety.

Thanks for your comment. Here is the correct link: http://www.carseatcoversreno.com/ Not everyone can sit up straight no matter how high or low the head rest is. The fix for me was to lift the head restraint and then add a lumbar restraint so my neck could not be flexed forward. If you have this problem, please contact Art Daub who owns motor sheep (http://www.carseatcoversreno.com/)

UPDATE First thanks to all for your comments and replies. My problem is at last solved so I am now free to love the Ford Edge. I am not 100% but 99% and was able to drive five to six hours on a trip to the Bay Area by myself with no discomfort. Here is the final fix: After reading on several blogs that owners who were handy with their sewing machines and hands, I searched Reno area and found Motor Sheep. The owner of this company which does much internet biz but also local business read my email with links, etc and really studied the problem. He responded and I drove to his shop the next day. He tried several lumbar pre-made restraints by attaching then to the head restraint area where my neck had been uncomfortably flexed. Problem solved--I thought. Wasn't sure but needed to do the long trip. I left his shop satisfied because now he had several other suggestions if the restraint I bought did not work. Seeing how handy he was with his industrial sewing machine I was quite confident that if anything further was needed that he would be able to solve the issue for me. Now two long trips later, I am satisfied that the issue is resolved OK for me. I recommend Motor Sheep and its owner, Art Daub. He can be reached at renomotorsheep@yahoo.com and the website address of his shop is http://www.motor-sheep.com/index.html.

An Option to Overcoming Head Rest Restraint Discomfort It turns out that Cabelas (the hunter's megastore) and Ford are partners. (Who knew?) Which may be why the service manager at our local Ford dealership suggested that I swing by there yesterday. There I got a neck support pillow I slipped it over the head restraint and got some relief when driving. Both with it wrapped around the neck or hanging down to support the thoracic spine. It's not a cure but it's better because it fills in the gap of spinal contact with the seat back.

Here is an update to my search for overcoming head restraint discomfort: You can email NHTSA if you want to add in your concerns. I did and got a nice reply but no answers for "fixing" my problem from Louis.Molino@dot.gov A slide show pdf accompanied his reply. Among other info in the slide show pdf, I gleaned the following: First: • "Two primary methods of achieving IIHS “Good”in Rear Impact 1. Improve overall seat system design (conventional) 2. Add active or re-active head restraints " Next: "4. Manufacturers have decreased backset to meet Contact Time 5. However, customers do not accept the backset position 6. Therefore, customers are choosing Comfort over Safety" Next: the one slide that spoke to my concerns as I have long been a stakeholder in injury prevention and control: Customers are choosing Comfort over Safety Customers are choosing Comfort over Safety • Customers are circumventing the head restraints 2008MY CUV “When seat back is in a more upright position, the headrest hits you at the back of the head. We had to reversethe headrests so we could drive the car.” 2007MY Sedan “Headrests are so uncomfortable, I removedthem.” • Customers are reclining the seat backwards to move away from the head restraint 2008MY Sedan “…I have to reclinemy seat…[to get] comfortable now.” • Dealers are complaining, because customers are making different purchase decisions to avoid forward positioned head restraints 2009MY Sedan “We are getting a ton of complaintson the headrest angle…It is forcing people to look down if their seat is set for a more upright position…” 2009MY Truck “Lost a saletoday because the customer said the headrests were uncomfortable.”

An update from ellent: I am having the same problems from our new Ford Edge. Here is the website from the regulators: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/ruling...2FinalRule.html In addition, once there you will find an email address to send your concerns. I just sent one to Louis.Molino@nhtsa.dot.gov with this content: I am hoping you can address this issue. I understand the need to prevent whiplash having had one in my late 20's. However, the new restraints that the Ford Edge and many of the newer cars have force the head down and forward for many of us causing severe pain in the neck and back. The pain comes from the fact that when we sit upright in the seat, the head is pushed so far forward that the cervical spine, and lumbar spine are artificially pushed forward away from the seat and thus go unsupported. I have prowled about on the web and note that many people have this problem and they are removing their head restraints or taking them out and turning them around putting themselves at risk even more than from the older restraints. Still others are reclining to dangerous positions while driving. A pillow propped up behind me allows me to drive 30 minutes before the pain starts as opposed to the 15 minutes without the pillow. As a former emergency physician of many years and an injury prevention enthusiast, I find myself frustrated and feeling victimized by the new head restraint regulations. I know the rule was well-intended but it is causing pain for many who might not ever have a rear-end collision but who do drive every day. I am hoping you can direct me to an after-market solution that retains the enhanced safety feature and also relieves the back pain being caused by being forced into an unnatural driving solution. Perhaps if we all send an email detailing our problems something will happen.

Thanks. I have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow. Also have posted a plea for input or help on a physicians' website to see if any of the spine doctors weigh in. I'll keep all posted on any progress.

Here is more information regarding these uncomfortable new designs: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/golf...afe-but-painful

I just bought a new Ford Edge a few days ago. I could hardly wait to drive it home. That's when all the trouble started. By the time I got home 25 minutes after leaving the lot, I had severe neck and back pain. Instead of sitting upright, the head restraints push the head forward. You can see a photo of the problem at http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2008...-from-hell.html. I have searched the web and this forum. I understand that the danger of whiplash from rear collisions is reduced if the head restraint actually touches the back of the head at the right spot. My problem is that when this happens, my neck and back can't be supported by the back of the seat which I am pushed away from. I see that some folks in this forum have solved this problem by reclining more. However, I like to sit up straight and look ahead rather than lie down while driving or being forced to look at my navel as opposed to the road thanks to the jutting head restraint. Does anyone know of a solution to this problem. Does the DVD headrest solve the problem? All help welcome

I am 5'7" and have the same problem. I like to sit up when I drive, not check out my navel.