bluefor3

I am at my ideal body weight as well. 26 yrs old 6' 3'' and weigh 175. On short trips the seats are amazing. They are comfortable to me. On long trips though-- (200 miles or more) my left leg just cramps up and is sore as hell. I lean on my right side and than the pain goes away. It’s only my left leg that gets sore. I just drove a 2012 Dodge Charger 400 miles (one way) for work and never had any problem with comfort. I think it is a slight design issue. The seats are great---I agree though....there is something that causes left side pain. I have never ridden in the passenger seat so I couldn't tell ya.

BLU4TJW

It's not unreasonable to surmise that some of you may be experiencing symptoms of back issues which transmit via sciatic nerves down your legs (sciatica). Some seating positions and seats can contribute to the experience. It doesn't necessarily mean the F150 seats are responsible, as most are quite content, even happy with the comfort. But seating position, design and how the shape of your body and limbs correlates, can indeed play a role if you have lower back issues. Blood flow restriction to the lower extremities could also explain discomfort from the above conditions.

You don't have to have a bad or sore back to suffer from sciatica. Lower back muscle pain is not the same experience as sciatica. You don't have to be old or in bad shape either (although having a pot belly can accentuate the problem). Impinged nerves from either bulging or herniated discs can cause numbness or send waves of pain down your leg, from mild, dull, throbbing to knife-sharp intense.

Short trips may be uncomfortable, but an extended trip would certainly let you know.

Potential health issues aside, a manufacturer can't design a seat for every single body configuration. Every one of us are built different. Tall, short, skinny, not-so-skinny, in-shape, out-of-shape, long legs, short legs. We all know this. And I appreciate the frustration of those who are uncomfortable with their seat. As much as my F150 seat seems to fit my body comfortably, my family's other vehicle is hardly comfortable for any trip over 20 minutes.

gregsf150stx

I was in my truck 2 hours today. I went to Nashville (about an hour away). First long trip I been on since I got the truck 2 weeks ago. I actually found the seats to be most comfortable.

Previously, I had a Malibu, and I was really hurtin when I got outta that thing!

nathan_nathaniel

My upholsterer said he can fix this seat for $225, basically doing what a previous poster suggested... cutting back the sides a bit, then adding firmer padding in the center.

I already know I have problems with my sciatic nerve (poster who suggested this was on the right track), but having driven everything from a 1952 International pickup to a 2011 F150, it's definitely a poor sign that this is the only vehicle that's ever aggravated my sciatic problem, which I had back in 1972 when I was driving the International. That's 40 years of driving numerous vehicles, all while I had sciatica!

No problem till now.

bluefor3

Very True! So can you tell me the best way I should adjust my seat to fix this. I know I am sounding dumb, but long trips suck when your leg feels like it is being ripped off at the knee. I currently sit upright. Most young folks almost lay down their seat driving..how in the world they can do this is beyond me. I may just have my seat too straight up and down. I think I might try reclining it a bit and see if that helps. Thanks for the info!

ken75ranger

I feel the left leg pain too. One thing I found helps. Try putting your left foot on the floor a few inches from the seat. It take a lot of pressure off the back of your leg.

BLU4TJW

A lot depends on how long or short your legs and arms are, but as the ranger said ^ keep your left foot flat on the floor and close to the seat as you would sitting at a desk. You shouldn't sit too inclined or reclined, but changing that setting often helps temporarily relieve discomfort. Raising or lowering your seat (if that's an option) so the foot is flat on the floor and your thigh angles down to your lower back slightly and sometimes moving the seat forward a little bit so your arms aren't over reaching may also help. Your body should be close enough to the steering wheel so that your arms have a relaxed bend at the elbow (think race car driver position), but that often depends on how long your legs are. Just sitting on your couch at home, extend your arms out to an imaginary steering wheel, then slowly pull them back down to comfortably in front of your shoulders, you'll find the most comfortable spot just sitting there.

Honestly, if your seat discomfort stems from back related sciatica, you are limited in relief strategies. First and foremost, lose belly fat if you are over-blessed, as it puts the most pressure on the lower lumbar vertebral discs in your back, which then impinge on the sciatic nerves which run down your legs. Nothing really fixes bulging or herniated discs once you have them, so lifestyle change and a commitment to strengthening the core muscles is your only recourse. Sciatica can come and go for years, and like many of us have experienced, there are some vehicle seats and driving positions which just seem to aggravate it. But that mostly is determined by your body shape and length of limbs, more so than the actual seat.

It's not something the guys with heated and cooled seats are going to want to try, but for years when I was truly suffering, I used an Obusforme cushion http://www.obusforme.ca/obus_forme/s...t-support.html.
There are different options for different body types, and they are a heck of a lot cheaper than reupholstering, which honestly will not guarantee any fix. I would recommend them for any one who finds the seat uncomfortable for whatever reason. They may be ideal for pushing your body forward slightly to avoid the pressure spot the thigh bolster is providing for many of you.

Hope you guys can find your sweet spot.

shure46

It's the sides of the drivers seat , and I have always worn my wallet on the left side which these seats tend to push the wallet into my leg .... I have driven a lot since 2005 (I believe my 2005 and now 2010 F-150 seats have been the culprit) ..... It has always seemed a bit "uncomfortable" on my left leg and buttock , and now I have sciatica which is nothing nice believe me ...... I do not entirely blame those seats , but they are 75% of the problem , I am quite sure of that , now that i think back to all the times I had driven and thought "man this left buttocks hurts" and i would jiggle and squirm to get comfortable ...... I am 5'11" , weigh 225 lbs (NOW) , weighed anywhere from 190-210 lbs from 2005-2011 ..... Those seats are not designed well , I guarantee it ....... There will be more news on this issue - just watch and see

clemarr

I have a 2012 SCrew with the 40,20,40 seats and have the same problem. My left left hurts when I drive. Feels like I am just sitting on the frame of the seat. I have the 6 way power seat but the seat feels like the front part of the seat needs to drop down more. I am 6' 3" and 310 lbs and my wife has the same problem driving and she is 5' 8" and 160 pounds. We are at the point now where I drive the truck back and forth to work which is 12 miles one way and when we go on a longer trips we drive her Flex. I really like the truck but I wish I had a fix for this

nathan_nathaniel

There is a ton of guy (including me) for whom these seats are pure hell. My local seat shop said it can be improved, but not repaired, because of the internal structure. The fix is to use very dense foam to build up the center and eliminate the "dish" shape that forces your hip against the metal structure.

As a rule, very skinny guys and very fat guys have no problem.