RX350 2021 Seat Cushion Discomfort

[D3nny8300]

We bought the 2022 RX350 Fsport and the front seats are narrow and have high/hard side bolsters.  Didn't feel the issue in our test drives and went forward with the purchase, which was primarily for the wife who is small and fits the seats fine (5-2 108 lbs).  But for me, EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE.  I'm not a big man (5-11 210 lbs) and the bolster digs into the base of my thighs, such that my leg will get numb on drives/rides longer that 15 minutes.  So I hate it.  😞    We've been looking for solutions without success.  Lexus has only been giving lip service in our request for help.  This takes our Lexus experience to the dumpster.  Trying to soften to bolsters to no avail.  Out of options....

[Warner B]

Thanks, Dennis for adding that. The sides of the seat base/squab definitely dig into my thighs too.  Also, I find that the seat support worsens when ventilation is activated because of the suction that occurs within the seat. How dumb is this design! I have no solutions either.

[Jay_Lexus]

So I have been looking around for threads related to seat discomfort in the new RX350. 

I just purchased a 2022 RX350 F-Sport and am quite unhappy about the seats. I love that they are ventilated as that is something that I wanted for this vehicle purchase, but the F-Sport seats are just terrible.

I'm 6' 205 lbs and am constantly dealing with my thighs being uncomfortable because the side bolsters are just too stiff. The design of the F-Sport seat is ultimately too narrow on the bottom and the bolsters force you to either keep your legs squeezed together or rest your legs over the thigh bolsters to spread out which is where the problem resides. 

 

I also was not able to pick up on this during my test drive initially and I'm disappointed that I didn't because I came from a Tacoma that had a similar issue, the seat material was firm and the padding was also firm which created the same thigh pain during longer trips. It's something that I told myself I would look out for and somehow I overlooked it during the test drive, probably because I was tired and somewhat mesmerized by all of the other 'good' things that the RX350 does offer. 

 

If I could do it all over, I would have tried to get the luxury package instead of the F-Sport but I do prefer the interior and exterior design of the F-Sport.. there's compromises to be made I suppose but the thigh bolsters are enough of a problem that I am contemplating taking the car to an upholster shop and asking if they can flatten out and change where the stitching is. It's not real leather in the F-Sport, it's (nu luxe) whatever that means and so I'm hoping we can find a solution but it's going to cost a good deal of money and that is a bummer when you think about how much you invested in the new vehicle and of course have buyers remorse when you think about the competition in this segment. 

 

I also feel the 'egg' like portion of the seat that does seem to sit right in the middle rear section of the bottom portion drivers seat. I know this is going to annoy me over time, so now it's an ordeal. 

 

With the side bolsters though, I really feel like Lexus has conflated the purpose of a crossover suv that is meant to be a "family" car. For the F-Sport at least, it's not fooling anyone of being a fast suv so why put such firm bolsters in the seats that you actually cause problem of comfort to the occupant? We're not going on the track, it doesn't need to feel like this.. 

 

From what I'm gathering, it seems that the issue really stems from the seam of bolster where they sew it together at the top. For both sides, this seam is incredibly rigid, almost like there's a coat hangar that is lining this portion and it does not have any give. The interior side of the bolster closest to the seat belt quite honestly has the rigidity and thickness of a firm piece of rubber, and to make it worse, the seat is designed so that it gets more narrow the closer to your but which makes it very uncomfortable. 

 

Some people say they will break in, but with this new 'nu luxe' synthetic material, I find that unlikely and the bolsters would have to be folding flat for me to get any relief - this is essentially what I would ask the upholstery shop to do, take out the seam and pad them so they're more flat. 

 

I'm using a foam seat cushion in the meantime, just ridiculous. Car has 1000 miles on it, and I'm already thinking of trading it in or just getting rid of it entirely. My exciting Lexus purchase has now turned into a search for an upholstery shop to create a more comfortable seat... 

[Jay_Lexus]

Here's the seats from a GX460. You can see that the seam in the bolster is on the backside of the cushion.

I really wish I could just put these seats in the RX350, literally the one sticking point that might have me getting rid of the vehicle, what a bummer. 

[Warner B]

Dear Jay_Lexus, I have an RX300 (non-F Sport) and the sides are just as stiff. It digs into my thighs too. That and all the other characteristics of the seat design make for the worst Lexus seat I've ever had. Coming from an 2011 RX450h which had the most comfortable seats of any vehicle, my current RX is a real pain, literally. It's an awful situation because the car is otherwise what I expected it to be: low-key, refined and practical

[RX400h]

Porsche made a fortune when they created the Cayenne for those who already had a 911 but also had a family.  Of course, the Cayenne just HAD to have sportscar DNA in it. Perhaps Lexus felt that they should do the same for sports car owners who wanted a Lexus SUV with some of the same "spirit". 

[Patricia Skidd]

I have a 2021 Lexus RX and since the day I bought it, the driver seat was weird. It feels like something is wrong with the spring, or cushion. It's a weird feeling at the base of my tail bone. I'm 115 lb female, only driver, and drive 5 miles 2-3 times a week to work, plus short local drives to do typical shopping. There is actually a dent in the front of the cushion.  The (obnoxious) service manager at Lexus of Jacksonville said it was "normal wear and tear". He never got in the car. Lexus "team" in corporate took his word.  I am goin to try and take it further, but I am VERY DISAPPOINTED that they refused to send a specialist out to check it. Might be my last Lexus and I love the car.

[Warner B]

Adding to this thread from my previous entries...The seat cushions seem puffy but they actually compress a lot, hence do not give adequate support. It's causing me more and more back pain esp around the lower back and buttock. The ventilated seats are ineffective and are a scam.

[Woocat88]

I hate the seats!  So uncomfortable!
I have a 2017 RX350. The top of the line loaded luxury version. All the bells and whistles. It is beautiful and except for the way the seats feel, I love the car. But I bought the Lexus brand because…
I want LUXURY. I want comfort and to be surrounded by high-end finishes and have the ability to travel via my SUV any distance  with enjoyment. 
We also have a 2015 Mustang GT that has obviously a sport ride. It is extremely comfortable! Even with the more bumpy sports car feel! We also have a 2022 Dodge Ram, luxury version. It is like riding on a cloud and it is a full-size truck!
I find it ridiculous that our luxury Lexus SUV is the worst riding/uncomfortable seat vehicle we have ever owned. And between us, we have owned many cars! So crazy uncomfortable and so difficult to travel when you’re miserable. 
I’m looking at Mazdas now. Half the cost of my RX350 and 10x the comfort. 

[Les Lex 2018]

Lots of compromise there, Tammy, if you're looking at a Mazda at half the price.

You want LUXURY and comfort and to be surrounded by high-end finishes and have the ability to travel via an SUV any distance with enjoyment?  You don't need an SUV. You got that big bad Dodge Ram.

You need to get yourself into a Lexus ES300h luxury sedan.  Much, much quieter than an RX. It has a much better ride than an RX. It gets over two time the gas milage (44 City) and has the same get up and go as a standard RX.

It cost about the same as an RX.  It has all the same luxury, equipment and gadgets as an RX.

Your brakes and car battery last longer, cause you don't hardly use them. You don't even have a starter on that thing.

 Oh, and Tammie?  You'd just plain look better in an ES300 than you would in a Boxy Mazda.

Trust me on that one...

[Olygirl]

I have to agree...seats are not that comfortable in my 2021 RX450H (appear to be the same as Golfgirl's). The seats in my 2015 RX350 were more comfortable. And the seats in our 2006 LS430 were really, really comfortable.

[Disapointed]

On 5/9/2021 at 5:01 PM, GolfGirl said:

My new RX350 has the most uncomfortable seat cushions that hit in a very strange way.  The several ways I can describe it would be rather indelicate.  Let's just say it feels like there a divider going down the middle, or I am sitting on an egg...OK...it feels like I am being goosed by my car seat!  All the seats in the vehicle have that feeling, but I am most concerned about the drivers seat. I notice it more some times than others.  I have only driven locally, so I don't know how bad a long trip will feel.  My dealer says there is a layer of gel as a padding that is normal: I thought it was the seat ventilation apparatus. They said there is nothing they can do.  Some people feel it...others don't.  I am a small older lady.  I will be meeting with the Lexus area Representative, but I am not expecting much resolution.  My old 2004 RX330 was very comfortable, but it was time for something new.  Has anyone experienced anything like this in their new RX350?  

same for me. My '22 highlander seats were wonderful. My Volvo seats were glorious. These RX seats make me hurt. Very disappointing

[Mary Maggitas]

I own a Lexus

Quote

 

I own a Lexus rx 350- 2015. last generation of that year's model and now I own and 2022 Lexus rx 350.  I had the premium level on both models and found that the newer one 2022 seat was so uncomfortable after a 3 hr rd.  I still owned my 2015 and sat in it right after the 3 hr ride in my 2022 and there is a world of difference in comfort.  The 2022 feels like a cheap entry version seat cushion where as the 2015 seats feel more like a gx model.  This is disturbing since the price of the cars has gone up over the years.

[Les Lex 2018]

Based on Rampant inflation and using gold now as the standard, the actual "COST to you" of a 24 is coming down. 

Why?

Because with the flood of all new Lexus models coming in, the Dealer is no longer able to charge you for a bunch of expensive / ridiculous options, like Projecting your dealers name-advertisement on the ground every time you get in the thing, LOL.

It's quickly becoming a buyers marker and no longer a "Take it or leave it" Dealers market.

[Joe4sail]

2019 Lexus RX350 driver's seat discomfort:

Driver's seat comfort was one important factor in my decision to purchase a 2019 Lexus RX350 last year.

C.R. rated driver seat comfort high on this vehicle, among reliability. I liked the look, so I took a test drive.

While the seat did not feel great to me, I assumed I would eventually find that great position to feel very comfortable.

Well, it's been nearly a year now and 14,000 miles later. The seat bottom has always felt fine, the seat back however, has not.

I am an average sized guy (5' 10" 180 #) but it seems the seat back was not designed for someone like me!

No matter what configuration I try, the curvature and lumbar do not conform to my back. Also, the back feels too firm after driving awhile and I feel the hard stitching design pushing into my back. I have experimented with add-on back cushions, however, with the back curving inward to the center, extra foam narrows the seat back too much.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? I otherwise really like my car and hate the thought of trading it so soon. What to do?     

[BigLarr]

Dude, how did you not realize it as soon as you sat down? I went today to look at used RX’s, checked out the executive and the fsport. AS SOON as I sat in the fsport I felt the bolsters. So I’m going with the exec.  
 

Sorry, but this is totally on you man.  Literally, before I could get seated and comfortable, I felt the bolsters, and immediately said, nope!