Ever since I got the XC90 a couple of weeks ago, I've been experiencing lower back pain while driving. It disappears when I leave the car. I've tried many different seat positions and combinations, but can't manage to stop the pain. I come from an Audi S4 with zero back pain.

Is it that I have to get used to the new car seats? Is anybody else experiencing something similar?

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Were you taught how to control the power lumbar on your new XC90?

There is a circular controller by your basic seat controls that have your height adjustable lumbar controls....should do the trick!

 

+1

Not trying to imply that it definitely wasn't the XC, but perhaps it was just a coincidence that the pain started when you got the XC. I've never experienced back issues from Volvo seats. Try adjusting the lumbar support and go see a specialist if the pain persists.

 

I use the XC90 and pain starts, get out of the car, pain stops. Today I'm taking my wife's Touareg to work. I'll see what happens.

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The XC90 has extremely comfortable seats, especially with the lumbar position adjustment.

 

Fortunately I've had the opposite happen to me, I'd get a back ache if I drove my '13 Escape for more than 15 minutes. Now I have no issues at all even if I'm driving for more than an hour. No surprise, she is my 6th Volvo. As stated above, you may want to adjust the lumbar. Good luck.

 

Could your more or less explain what combination you are currently using? Zero lumbar support? Stretched thigh cushion? High angle for the thigh cushion? Backrest well reclined?

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I have enjoyed the drivers seat in the XC90. Interestingly, I spent a prolonged two drives of 5 hours each in the passenger seats recently and was miserable. Which was odd because I think they are the same. Since I wasn't driving a spent a long time trying to diagnose the source of my discomfort. I never definitely answered that challenge but what I did figure out was that when you use the thigh support booster it creates a gap in the cushion in the middle of the seat because the cushion is moved forward but not replaced. But since I use the thigh booster in the drivers seat I haven't noticed it. My theory is in the drivers seat I maintain a good posture and am pushed all the way back in the seat but as a passenger I tend to slouch forward which puts me in the dead zone between the cushions. I ended up having to vacillate between using thigh booster for a while and having it retract for a while to stay comfortable.

 

I have adjusted the lumbar support in every way possible, with no positive effect. What I haven't done is stretch the thigh booster. Do you have the thigh booster position pushed up to create an inverse v with your legs, or do you have it low with your legs stretched?

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Back pain in any volvo = a visit to an orthopedic specialist.

 

Have you read through the controls? There were more than I had thought from just messing with it- in particular using the middle lever to to control the tilt of the seat(not the backrest) and to adjust the height of the seat, these two in conjunction with adjusting the steering wheel got me my ideal driving position. Since I'm pretty much the only driver of the car I've also set all three seat memory buttons. I generally use my first but have a second and third for more reclined for when I'm cruising on the highway. My first one doesn't use the thigh extension at all, I played around with it for a while to find a position I liked without it, mainly cause I don't like how it looks lol.

Anyway, I've found these seats to be very deserving of being called best in class.

 

It sucks getting old.

 

I can not wait to get my hands om my XC90, due to be delivered in January. Right now we have a VW Polo as a family car (a bit of a squeeze with 2 kids) and my back starts hurting after less than 5 minutes but then that car was built for vertically challenged people...

 

I experienced similar in my limited time in the passenger seat. Fortunately there are many seat positions that Nearly anybody should be able to find one that's comfortable. I just found it much easier in the driver seat then the passenger seat. It really probably was due to slumping in the passenger seat.

 

I've had lower back pain in many cars over many years. Adjustable lumbar support has always been too high regardless of adjustment.

I've always had a folded-up sweatshirt in the lower corner of the seat, always does the trick. Mitsubishi Eclipse to XC90, go figure.

 

Doesn't anyone else feel that the seat's lowest air bladder is always pushing against your lower back, even when deflated to the max?

I believe this is what's causing my pain. In my wife's Touareg, the seat doesn't even touch my lower back, therefore no pain.


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Doesn't anyone else feel that the seat's lowest air bladder is always pushing against your lower back, even when deflated to the max?

I believe this is what's causing my pain. In my wife's Touareg, the seat doesn't even touch my lower back, therefore no pain.

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I really don't feel that way. Also hope you are aware that it does not just inflate/deflate but moves up and down. Hope you can sort this out because these seats are IMO one of the indisputably great features of this car.

 

This may sound silly, but it sounds like you might be describing the discovery of back problems you weren't aware you had.

If continuous supportive (not excessive) pressure on your lower back causes pain, you might want to try talking to your doctor and springing for a series of good therapeutic massages of your lower back and glutes and seeing if it improves.

You're probably experiencing pain because there is either inflammation in that area or tight / knotted muscles in that area or your glutes. The Touareg doesn't provide any support there, so there's no pressure. Instead, your muscles stay tensed up and your body and mind have adapted to keep you from feeling what's wrong there. When the Volvo applies additional pressure you are not used to, even if that is properly supportive pressure, it may cause you pain.

You could just try to adjust the seat and ignore it, but eventually you may end up with more serious problems. For example, I didn't know I had these kinds of problems in my upper back until the muscles literally pulled my spine crooked, leaving me in a great deal of pain and discomfort and causing a chain reaction of other muscle strains. With the lower back, you could end up with hip problems or the sciatic nerve could become impinged resulting in sciatica.

Just suggesting you look at this from another angle - if the problem is actually with your body and not with your seat, you may do yourself a disservice by just trying to adjust the seat to compensate.

That's not to say there isn't great value in comfort and you should stop trying to adjust your seat. Our old tempurpedic (which we got when I started realizing I had back problems) let me feel everything that was wrong with my back when I laid on it because of the even pressure. We traded it for a super soft cushy pillow top and I am sleeping much better now and will never go back. I can't imagine the driving distraction that pain might cause!

 

This may sound silly, but it sounds like you might be describing the discovery of back problems you weren't aware you had.

If continuous supportive (not excessive) pressure on your lower back causes pain, you might want to try talking to your doctor and springing for a series of good therapeutic massages of your lower back and glutes and seeing if it improves.

You're probably experiencing pain because there is either inflammation in that area or tight / knotted muscles in that area or your glutes. The Touareg doesn't provide any support there, so there's no pressure. Instead, your muscles stay tensed up and your body and mind have adapted to keep you from feeling what's wrong there. When the Volvo applies additional pressure you are not used to, even if that is properly supportive pressure, it may cause you pain.

You could just try to adjust the seat and ignore it, but eventually you may end up with more serious problems. For example, I didn't know I had these kinds of problems in my upper back until the muscles literally pulled my spine crooked, leaving me in a great deal of pain and discomfort and causing a chain reaction of other muscle strains. With the lower back, you could end up with hip problems or the sciatic nerve could become impinged resulting in sciatica.

Just suggesting you look at this from another angle - if the problem is actually with your body and not with your seat, you may do yourself a disservice by just trying to adjust the seat to compensate.

That's not to say there isn't great value in comfort and you should stop trying to adjust your seat. Our old tempurpedic (which we got when I started realizing I had back problems) let me feel everything that was wrong with my back when I laid on it because of the even pressure. We traded it for a super soft cushy pillow top and I am sleeping much better now and will never go back. I can't imagine the driving distraction that pain might cause!

Thank you very much Matt. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to write such a thorough response.

In the end, you are right. Everybody seems to be more than satisfied with the XC90's seat comfort, so it's time for me to head for the doctor.

I am definitely too sensitive to pressure in the area where the sciatic nerve is located. I just hope that the doctor can give me a fast solution, because 2 weeks from now I have to make a 1200 mile drive as an only driver.

Cheers

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Some cars give me back pain - so not sure what to expect from the XC90 - a 19 hour road trip only leaving the car twice to fuel and no back problems - put my mind at rest.

 

I do not own an XC90 but did buy a 2015.5 XC70 AWD T6. Have had it now for about 3 months and find the seat comfort one of the best of many cars and trucks I've owned right along with a 2005 S500 Mercedes I sold about 2 years ago. I am 5'10" and about 255 lbs. drove the XC70 from Washington to Arizona in 2 days for the winter, a trip that was 700 plus miles per day and only driver. I've had back problems for over 35 years from an injury and the seats are no problem to my back. The auto I owned before the Volvo was a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and had the WORSE seats for comfort of any car I've owned that I can remember. The trip from AZ to WA. last June for the summer in the Jeep, just about put me in the emergency room when I got to WA. again a 2 day drive. I plan to buy an XC90 next year, will be looking for a slightly used one. I've driven over a million miles in my life and will swear by Volvo's comfort.

 

You, along with many other Volvo owners are hands down convinced about the comfort.

I am heading for the doctor to figure out what to do. Did you do something to stop the pain after the road trip to AZ on the Grand Cherokee? Chiropractor?

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Both people and seats vary so much in shape it's surprising more people don't get back pain. It is possible the XC90's seats provide too much lumbar support for some drivers even at the minimum setting. But a visit to the doctor does seem a good idea.

 

FWIW, I have a 95 T-5R and a 97R. As many know the seat design changed between the two.The side bolsters are higher on the 97. I like the idea of the higher bolster for spirited drives, but my back does not agree. I was using my 97 as my daily for a while and my back did not like it. I am now back driving my 95 and all is good again. It could be any number of things triggering it, but stretching, exercise, some Advil may be all you need.

Good Luck, experience speaking it's not fun.

 

Rested to stop the pain and took heavy doses of prescription medication/Oxycodone of which I am on a routine pain management for last 3 years due to injury and botched surgery. After pain somewhat subsided, did mild stretching exercise right after a hot bath soak for about an hour with Epson Salt. I do, do regular visits to a masseuse about every 10 days that really helps also. Deep tissue massage. The Jeep was a great SUV other than a terrible ride for long distances. I'm a large person, 5'10" 255-265 lbs. for last several years.

 

Neck pain

Ever since I got the XC90 a couple of weeks ago, I've been experiencing lower back pain while driving. It disappears when I leave the car. I've tried many different seat positions and combinations, but can't manage to stop the pain. I come from an Audi S4 with zero back pain.

Is it that I have to get used to the new car seats? Is anybody else experiencing something similar?

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Since I got my 2017 Momentum in early August I have had neck pain. Been to the chiropractor 2x and had him check my seating position. taking the wife's minivan for a long weekend vacation so I will be able to see if the Volvo is the issue or not but if it is, this has gotten to the point where I may have to take a loss and get rid of this. I have never had a neck or back issue in my life and owned cars from Fords to Audi.

 

I've had a serious back injury, and the seats in my Volvos are the only seats that make my back better, no hyperbole, actual fact. Including my chair in the den. If I sit too long in my den chair my back gets worse, conversely, a two hour drive in one of my Volvos will make my back better. I can't believe it either.

 

Some have called these seats the best in the industry. Multiple points of adjustment and seats that support the lumbar spine and flanks, thigh extensions for some. If experiencing lower back pain maybe increase the amount of lumbar support. I have noticed the lack of body fatigue after long trips. I've never checked into a hotel after a full day of driving and actually felt as good as when I left in the morning.

 

I've got to figure these seats out. Find myself moving to gain comfort way too often. 2 trips in the last two months of 2,300mi and 1,000mi. Shuffling too much during both.

We've had 5 Volvos in the last 10 years and these seats are rated #5 of the 5 for comfort. Guess we were spoiled with the S60 line. Our 2012 S60 T5 seats were simply dreamy followed by the S60RD's wrap around seats (very similar to the XC's). Oklahoma to Florida in the '12 and never felt a twinge of back pain or leg fatigue. Must figure out the seating position, has something to do with the seat height - for me.

 

I found the seats a bit tricky to adjust properly (not sure why, exactly, but that lumbar support was hard to get right and it likes to rest, at time), but, once adjusted, my experience has been completely the opposite. I have a lot of back problems and I take long trips - I drove 8+ hours last week and the week before. I was actually surprised by how (well) my back felt after those trips.

 

I have had more back pains in the volvo than any other car. Ive had acuras and mercedes in the past.

 

Unfortunately, more supportive seats can actually cause more pain.

I get pain in my mid-to-upper back because of some spine problems there. The seats in all of my past cars did not have support there. The seat in my V90 does. That means it's putting pressure on an area I'm not used to having pressure on when it's sore. So when that area is having a bad day, the V90 makes me feel it. But in the long run, it's better for me and it lets me know about the problem.

For a similar experience, if you have a bad back try sleeping on a memory foam mattress for a few weeks. It's more evenly supportive, but you will feel all those spots that had tensed up and gone numb.

Those numb spots will cause more problems in the long run if they're ignored. The muscles will continue to get all messed up, may pull unevenly, and eventually you'll end up with a subluxated vertebra or worse.

Having a bad back sucks. Just ask Tiger Woods.