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Solution to stiff seats?

15K views 40 replies 20 participants last post by  overlanding 
#1 ·
Ive driven the Limited, Overland, and Summit. All 3 feel like the seats are solid as a rock. Im not expecting a lazyboy sofa, but something more comfortable than a park bench.

For those that feel that the drivers seat was too firm, did you find a solution? Was it just being a new vehicle that it needed time to break in or have you found that it hasnt really gotten any better?
 
#2 ·
I have tested several Summits and an Overland and the Overland seats were way harder than the Summit. From what I've read on this and other forums the seats do soften up a bit over time but the Overland is a stiffer foam right from the start.

Personally I like how the Summit seats feel and that is the trim I am going to buy very soon.
 
#4 ·
I test drove the MDX today and the difference was vast. The MDX felt like sitting on a sofa and the overland felt like a park bench.

It is the one factor that is making me rethink my purchase and possibly go with something else. Kind of hard to drive the jeep if you cant stand the drivers seat.
 
#7 ·
I test drove the MDX today and the difference was vast. The MDX felt like sitting on a sofa and the overland felt like a park bench.
The Escape seats are closer to my MDX. I had an '11 and at times I felt they were too comfortable. But, I quickly dismissed that thought. :)

When I went from the MDX to the Overland it was like night and day.


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#6 ·
I dunno, I have a '14 Summit and have not noticed stuff seats. They feel perfectly comfortable and comparable to other vehicles I have owned/driven. If it's too stiff for you just give it time you will get used to it. Anytime you get a new vehicle it takes time to adjust, but once you do it will be great!
 
#8 ·
I thought the vented seats on my Limited with Lux2 were hard. After much fiddling with the adjustments and 6000 miles I've either gotten used to them or they're broken in because they seem quite comfortable now even when I'm driving for 9 hours straight.

I think they're like a good hiking boot. Stiff during break in, but comfortable and durable as they wear, unlike boots that start out soft and become uncomfortable as they wear.
 
#9 ·
I was at a jeep dealership today and sat in a new overland and then a used Limited and Summit (just to see if there was any difference once broken in). Both still felt pretty firm to me. A noticeable firm that kind of was all I was thinking about during the entire test drive.

No way I would get the seats without ventilation. If youve ever lived in Texas during the summer, you know they are a necessity
 
#10 · (Edited)
I realize that perceived seat comfort is subjective and varies by individual, but with that said...

I have a lower back problem and sciatica that flares up several times a year. I have the firmer #5 foam in my Overland and I've found the seat to be quite comfortable on long or short drives and whether the back/leg problem is present or not.

For me, the big difference in a seat is the amount of adjustibility, lumbar support and decent thigh and seat back bolsters. The lack of decent bolsters makes you subconsciously brace yourself with your legs to keep from sliding around on the seat. My Overland seats are perfect in that regard. It's one of the things I like the most about my Jeep.

Squad car seats use very firm seat foam compared to their civilian versions for 2 reasons... driver comfort and actual seat life because of the number of hours they're being sat on in a day. I've put thousands of hours on in squad cars and I've never felt uncomfortable due to the seat firmness. Maybe that's just me...
 
#11 ·
MDBones, I'm with you...the seats in my Summit are quite comfortable to me and I prefer the firm support for similar reasons. But for the next person, they certainly could be "too hard" as a personal preference.
 
#12 ·
FWIW...

For MY14 (presume MY15 is same) your seat foam is:

Laredo/E, Cloth....#2 Foam
Altitude l/lll, Suede....#5 Foam
High Altitude (MY15)....unknown but probably #5
Limited (Std)....#6 Foam
Limited (Lux II)....#1 Foam
Overland....#5 Foam
Summit....#3 Foam
SRT (Suede Perf)....#4 Foam
SRT (Laguna)....#7 Foam

To the best of my knowledge, higher number is firmer as I know for a fact the Overland #5 seats are physically stiffer/firmer than my #3 Summit seats. I acknowledge many like that firmness but my pref is for the best mix of sporty firmness for seat "fitting" me and luxury for cruising comfort. IMHO they got the Summit just right. So, relatively speaking, SRT's w/ Laguna seats (#7) have rocks for seats and Lux II Limiteds (#1) have squishers and other models/trims fill in between.

Other things like seat material, seat shape, bolster config, seat surface material, vented/non-vented, position, etc.. all affect perceived seat comfort but the base foam density has the most? impact on overall impression.
 
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#13 ·
I'm happy with the seat firmness in the LTD, but the missus doesn't like it at all. Had to get sheepskin seat covers.
 
#14 ·
Whoa, if you think these are stiff... lol... sit in a '05-'07 Liberty.
 
#15 ·
My dad actually had one of those! It was a company car and it killed his back. He ended up having to get rid of it because of the seats.

It was a bit relieving to hear that the seats either get softer or you get used to them. My biggest fear is that neither of those would happen. I know technically the MDX would be considered a "Luxury SUV" (even though you get more options with the jeep at a cheaper price) but I would have never expected the seats to be such a drastic difference in terms of comfort
 
#19 · (Edited)
So my post starts out with "FWIW" and is loaded with qualifiers and thats your response? Whatever...

The chart is 100% accurate, feel free to look up your own by VIN at the jeep.com equipment listing site.

So foam density had nothing to do with seat stiffness or comfort? Intetesting concept. Re-read my post for all my "foam density is not the end-all" qualifiers.

Out...
 
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#20 ·
So my post starts out with "FWIW" and is loaded with qualifiers and thats your response? Whatever...

The chart is 100% accurate, feel free to look up your own by VIN at the jeep.com equipment listing site.

So foam density had nothing to do with seat stiffness or comfort? Intetesting concept. Re-read my post for all my "foam density is not the end-all" qualifiers.

Out...
I tried to find more information about the # referring to the firmness. I did find a post on another forum from Christmas day 2014 that seemed to confirm what you are saying. Then I realized it was your post. :)

Can you enlighten us as to the source of this information, other than random posts on the internet? You say you are 100% sure about this, but I haven't been able to find anything from Jeep.

Mind you, I'm not saying it isn't true, but I'm curious how you are so sure.


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#21 ·
Wow, someone is a little touchy...

In all of my searches you are the only one I have found that references that as being how soft or firm the foam is.

And yes from my build sheet:
C1FP #6 Seat Foam Cushion

But like I said before, IF the #6 has to do with the firmness I would be sitting on bricks (mine is a Limited) and the LUXII ones I drove would have been stupidly soft. But in reality they were only marginally softer.

I never called you a liar, just saying I don't think that the number there reflects the foam density directly. I may be wrong, but its just my opinion based on over a dozen test drives in a one month period of 2015 MY WK2's.


Back to the OP, every vehicle I have owned, the seats did soften up some and break in over time. Because of that I would rather start with a overly firm seat so after time it is comfortable, one of my previous vehicles had foam soo soft that after 50000 miles the foam did not hold up and the seat actually caused back pain.
 
#24 ·
Sometimes, you guys know more about the Jeep than I do...

There is definitely a difference in foam, depending on the trim level, but since the seats come to the plant pre-made... I don't know much about them.
 
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#25 · (Edited)
I read a review a while ago that described the 2014+ GC seats as fealing as though they were carved out of granite and that it felt as though you were siting on the seat vs in the seat. Though i dont feal they are gainite and they do soften with time/use i do agree that they feel that you are sitting on them vs in them. Im 6ft 170lbs so not a big or a small guy but i often feel like im rolling over the edges on them sometimes. They are an OK seat but not the best or the worst i have had in a car. They do yhe job but i would never write them up as a high point. I have sat in different trim levels but i cant really detect much difference, not saying there isnt any its probably just suttle that i dont sense
 
#26 ·
With the better thigh and back seat bolsters my impression is the opposite... that I'm sitting in the seat, not on it. With the Overland seats I don't find myself sliding around or having to readjust my position. That can be annoying as hell.

Again, it comes down to individual perception of comfort. :)
 
#33 · (Edited)
Short story: My April 2013 (MY 2014) Overland had very hard and uncomfortable front seats (build sheet shows "#5 Seat Foam Cushion"). Replacement Summit (May 2014 build) has very comfortable seats, build sheet shows "#3 Seat Foam Cushion".

Long story: The front seats in my 2014 Overland (April 2013 build) were also not very comfortable, due to hard side bolsters on seat cushions - felt like a wallet needed adjusting but was not anything in pants pockets. Left+right side of seat bottom were too hard (I am not small or too large- 210lb 6'). Early build Overland had lots of electronic/software issues (apparently normal as with hard seats!), after complaining to Chrysler Customer Care for over a year (no hardware parts were ever replaced!), a surprise call informed me that they would replace it without cost for mileage since it had issues when new (14,000 miles when bought back by Chrysler). My only cost was window sticker difference between Overland and Summit - no extra taxes, dealer fees, etc. After waiting for new order to be built, it was smooth swap over from Overland to Summit. My thinking was that Summit would be different enough that wife would be more apt to like it. Also crystal granite replaced max steel and she likes the front/back styling better than Overland with erratic electronics.

Without thinking about it, I was pleasantly surprised to find the seats in Summit were very comfortable - noticed it the first time I sat in drivers seat. My wife also commented on how much more comfortable the seats were (I don't remember her complaining about the Overland seats - too many other issues with key fob not detected, LCD/NAV going blank, alarm going off, etc., etc). Software updates fixed some things but not all (1+ year for HVAC/temp readout fix, released after swap was ordered).

I am assuming that seat foam cushion #3 specified on vehicle build sheet is softer than #5. I did not have any choice when ordering. Possibly someone can confirm and replacing factory cushion foam #5 with #3 will be a fix uncomfortably hard sides of seat bottoms.

Summit now has 21,000 miles, seats are still very comfortable, and not a single issue, no service other than two oil changes and navigation update.
 
#37 ·
Possibly.

The service writer suggested he could get me a good price on moving the seats from a 95 Limited to the 14 Overland, as the techs had all noticed how much stiffer the WK2 was compared to the old pillow style in the ZJ.

On cross country trips, I've actually come to prefer the newer seats--not that they feel a heck of a lot softer after 34K miles, but I've notice that although I seem to fidget more in them, my back and bohurkus bother me less after 800 miles or so than they did in the ZJ.

Possibly Jeep should sell a branded hemorrhoid style cushion as an option for them.
 
#40 ·
I purchased a new 2015 overland and drove it from Houston to Dallas (about 3 1/2 hours). The seats werent as bad as I thought. My legs didnt feel cramped and I wasnt in any back pain. I need to find that perfect seat position and lumbar support, but my fears werent confirmed and I think ill be very happy driving this thing for years to come
 
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