turtle019

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When I got my 2024 Premium I found the 2-way (up/down) headrests to be somewhat uncomfortable and wanted to swap in the 4-way (up/down + tilt) from the earlier models. There's a lot of good information on this forum about that already but also a little bit of confusion. I'm sharing what I learned doing the replacement in the hope that it helps others.

The range the 4-way covers is quite broad from very far rearward of the 2-way to slightly forward. The 2-way is not the farthest forward position of the 4-way in neither placement nor angle. I used the passenger seat as a phone holder to keep my camera steady so I could take a set of pictures to overlay the 2-way with the maximum extents of the 4-way along with my preferred position somewhere in the middle. My driving position closely matches the angle of the 2-way but in a slightly more car rearward position.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Tilt Adjustable Headrest: 2-Way vs. 4-Way Overlay


There's more about the 4-way that affects overall comfort than just the position. I disassembled each of the headrests. The 2-way uses a single density of foam molded directly onto the support bar. The 4-way has a softer foam inset into the more dense foam. This cushion is then installed on top of the tilt mechanism. Overall this setup has much greater plushness.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Tilt Adjustable Headrest: 2-Way vs. 4-Way 20250728_231451


The trim covers on 2021-2022 have perforations while 2023 does not. As far as I can tell they both use the same service part number. I bought mine used on eBay. The listing used LJ8Z-58611A08-AD as the part number. One of them came with a badly bent support rod, so I bought another from an earlier model with the perforated trim and swapped the covers.
The same headrest fits both driver and passenger side. Be sure to replace both sides as the stitching pattern is different between the 2-way and 4-way. While I was waiting for the 3rd headrest to arrive I drove around for a while with the 4-way on the driver side and 2-way on the passenger side, and it looked a little strange.

If you buy used, be sure to check the year of the donor vehicle and decide if you'd like it with or without perforations. I picked a 2023 model donor without perforations to match the rear seats.

This part number is available to order new from Ford as a service part. I'm not sure if that would come with or without perforations. Their listed vehicle fitment years do not align with what the cars came with from the factory. I'm not sure if this is an error or an endorsement of replacing them as an upgrade.
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Vgkfan

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I love the 4 way headrest. So easy to adjust and feels very well made. Even more so after my daughter got her escape with the 2 way. We turned it around so it was more comfortable but still not great.
 

ATL

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It's surprising...and a little disappointing, how much Ford has subtly decontented these vehicles. Over the 5 production years (so far) they have substantially improved software, while steadily removing hardware.
Glad I got mine early enough to have most desirable features without being in the beta-test period. Just drive, charge, repeat!
 

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They decontented the headrest? Glad the car still comes with four tires! Actually, let me ask it as a question: does it still come with four tires?
 

Kamuelaflyer

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They decontented the headrest? Glad the car still comes with four tires! Actually, let me ask it as a question: does it still come with four tires?
They swapped out the original 4 adjustment headrest for a new and unimproved more uncomfortable headrest. Because reasons. 🙄

Still comes with tires but wheels are optional. Part of the optional friction and spark reduction package. ;)
 


NY_Cade69

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They swapped out the original 4 adjustment headrest for a new and unimproved more uncomfortable head rest. Because reasons. 🙄

Still comes with tires but wheels are optional. ;)
Yep, my wheels were part of an option package... 😁
 

NY_Cade69

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Curious if the 2025 covers would fit onto the 4-way frame.

I have the Sport Appearance Package, options in the US are close to nil finding Black with Red stitching...


There's more about the 4-way that affects overall comfort than just the position. I disassembled each of the headrests. The 2-way uses a single density of foam molded directly onto the support bar. The 4-way has a softer foam inset into the more dense foam. This cushion is then installed on top of the tilt mechanism. Overall this setup has much greater plushness.

20250728_231451.webp

This part number is available to order new from Ford as a service part. I'm not sure if that would come with or without perforations. Their listed vehicle fitment years do not align with what the cars came with from the factory. I'm not sure if this is an error or an endorsement of replacing them as an upgrade.
 
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turtle019

turtle019

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Curious if the 2025 covers would fit onto the 4-way frame.

I have the Sport Appearance Package, options in the US are close to nil finding Black with Red stitching...
They will not. The 4-way is much thinner than the 2-way
 

RickMachE

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They decontented the headrest? Glad the car still comes with four tires! Actually, let me ask it as a question: does it still come with four tires?
Yeah, this is old news.

They swapped out the original 4 adjustment headrest for a new and unimproved more uncomfortable headrest. Because reasons. 🙄

Still comes with tires but wheels are optional. Part of the optional friction and spark reduction package. ;)
Ford removed tilted headrests from all but Platinum Lightnings (and F-150s). My wife disliked the forward tilt of the fixed headrests. We turned the fixed one around for a year or so, then bought tilting headrests from Ford for points, and swapped the covers. Really annoying we had to do that.
 

NY_Cade69

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They will not. The 4-way is much thinner than the 2-way
Thanks!
Modding an oversized cover onto an undersized headrest would be more do-able than the reverse,
easy to add a layer or 2 of foam...
 

Kamuelaflyer

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Ford removed tilted headrests from all but Platinum Lightnings (and F-150s). My wife disliked the forward tilt of the fixed headrests. We turned the fixed one around for a year or so, then bought tilting headrests from Ford for points, and swapped the covers. Really annoying we had to do that.
Changing the headrests was definitely not a customer comfort improvement. You’re not the only one who has made that swap either.
 

RWG

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Yes it comes with 4 tires, but no spare. Just a cheap air compressor and a can of tire Stop Leak. but no jack and no tire wrench. I have been driving cars for over 50 years and never had one without a spare tire, jack and wrench., but I do now!
 

Kamuelaflyer

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Yes it comes with 4 tires, but no spare. Just a cheap air compressor and a can of tire Stop Leak. but no jack and no tire wrench. I have been driving cars for over 50 years and never had one without a spare tire, jack and wrench., but I do now!
Somewhere north of 40% of new cars come without spare tires.
 

RickMachE

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Somewhere north of 40% of new cars come without spare tires.
They have now removed the temporary spares from the trucks too. No jack either. Ridiculous.
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