Saab 95 Head Restraints

[polaris69]

ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM WITH YOUR SAAB 9-5 HEAD RESTRAINT ?
DOES IT NOT GO HIGH ENOUGH ? DOES IT CUT YOU IN THE NECK OR SHOULDER BLADES WHEN YOU DRIVE SO YOU CANNOT SIT BACK IN YOUR SEAT ?

HAVE YOU HAD TO DISCONNECT YOUR ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT TO DRIVE YOUR SAAB 9-5 ?

IF YOU HAVE TO DO ANY OF THESE PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I CAN HELP YOU.

I AM NOT SELLING ANYTHING I AM JUST PUTTING PRESSURE ON SAAB AND NEED YOUR HELP TO ADD TO MY CAMPAIGN TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR CARS ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE A TV SHOW INTERESTED IN COVERING THE STORY.

PLEASE CONTACT ME p.harris@netcomuk.co.uk

[edonis]

The headrestraints in the Saab 9-5 are the best there is on the market for protection against whiplash injuries. How tall are you, since the head restraints won't go high enough? Mine can go way higher than I need them. This year, Folksam (Swedens largest insurance company) awarded the Saab 9-5 as Sweden's most safe car to drive for the fourth year in a row. Furthermore, it has gotten a top pick in the American Highway Institue for Safety or something in that direction, and gotten five star in the EuroNcap collision tests.

So I'm curious to know which TV-show that will cover a story telling people that one of the worlds safest cars is potentially dangerous. Instead, go after the REAL unsafe cars. Saab 9-5's head restraints save lives!

[polaris69]

Oh YES they are very safe indeed - but when you have to disengage the headrest to be able to sit in the seat to drive it then it becomes very unsafe. All they have to do is add a few more notches or make the head restraint posts a few inches longer.

So all the short drivers who dont have this probelm - you are ok and very safe - all those who are 6 feet and above may have a problem.

I am just over 6 feet tall. I have a major problem - never had it before in a 900, 93 or 900. 3 series, Mercedes, Lexus, Ford Focus, VW Golf, Polo, Lupo, - so why so short in a Saab 9-5 ?

I know that other drivers have the same problem.

As far as the TV program - I cant say - but Saab know.

I am not out to cause any trouble or run Saab into the ground - I think they are great cars - but head restraints are only as good as as high they go - check out the test resuts at the thatcham web site.

[edonis]

Hm.. I am 181-182cm, isn't that roughly 6 feet? I haven't had the same problem, but sure, they could add another notch or two. One possible reason to why they haven't got this is that the headrestraints go forward in the event of a collision, so the headrestraint posts will then stand at an angle. If the posts were too long, they would penetrate through the back of the seats? This is just a theory, however. Are you sure you know how the headrestrains are supposed to be according to your head? I am not questioning your intelligence or anything in that matter, just curious because I know many people have them the wrong way.

[polaris69]

It's hard to tell - I was thinking the same - but the 93 had head restraints that go all the way and further - So I am not sure !

It ls the front tip of the headrest that catches me in the back of the neck.

It all depends how tall your shoulders are - but it is a MASSIVE oversight by Saab. If you buy a bigger car than a 9-3 - you expect everything to be bigger don't you !

Try lowering your head restraint so you cant get your shoulders underneath it. Then drive it for a few miles - and you will notice how painful it is.

I am pretty sure they can get at least an extra inch in those pillars - If I did have a headrest with longer posts - they would not be pushed into the seat it would be fully extended - so it would not go through the seat.

Maybe they should make a modification with the notches that go deeper but stop the posts from going too far into the seat - so it will go high enough but not too low to go through the backs of the seats.

[edonis]

Good idea.. But can't you talk to your Saab dealer? Maybe they can get you that in Sweden and send you over one?