The front seat in most passenger vehicles will collapse backwards during relatively modest rear impacts. This can result in the seat occupant being thrust into the back seat or ejected. Head and spinal injuries can occur when the occupant strikes his or her head on portions of the vehicle behind the seat. Seatback collapse can also lead to a complete loss of control, making a moderate accident more severe or causing additional collisions.

Automakers defend seatback collapse cases, in part, by claiming a collapsing or "yielding" seatback assists occupants in "riding" down a collision. This claim lacks medical and engineering support and is further undermined by the introduction of stronger seatback designs in newer vehicles, including the "Catcher's Mitt" seat design recently introduced by General Motors.