My 2001 VW Passat gls was hit in the rear by a large 89 Chevy van. The seat that I was sitting in reclined almost all the way back to the back seat so that I was looking up at the roof. My seat belt cut my head and wrist of my left arm as I fell back. I know it was the seat belt because there was skin on the shoulder portion of it. After the accident I looked at the totalled car and noticed that the seat had shifted. The front thigh support portion came up, and the back support went down. Upon close inspection, I think that the seat brackets yielded in the collision changing the overall orientation of the seat. I was not seriously injured, as far as I know I just had a case of whiplash. However, I am staying in touch with my doctor should any additional back or neck problems come out of this. However, I could have been ejected from the seat or throw into the back, not to mention the serious injuries the seat would have caused to a person sitting in back of me. I called VW and the regional representative claims that the seat is designed to give in a severe rear impact. I asked for a statement in writing, and they agreed to this but I have yet to see it. (it may or may not be coming) I have the date and time of that phone conversation. I also have pictures of the car, the seat, and the brackets. VW does not advertise any special seat features like Volvo's whips protection, so I am worried about the safety of this seat design. A quick internet search showed that several people have had similar events in a rear impact. Clubb5.com, and audiworld.com both have conversations about this in the forums. If this is a poor seat design, I think that they should all be fixed.

- Hamden, CT, USA