The impact of back edge tensile cracks on soil slope stability evaluation is explored which is helpful to the perfection of slope stability theory. This paper mainly reviewed and summarized the influence of trailing edge tensile cracks on the instability mode and stability of soil slope, which provided a theoretical basis for the establishment of slope tensile-shear coupling failure stability evaluation system and the identification of instability modes such as collapse and stepped landslide. Moreover, the influence mechanism was preliminarily explored from the results of indoor model test, and it was found that the different slope height, slope angle and mechanical parameters of soil slope would directly affect the tensile crack initiation position, occurrence and depth of the trailing edge, which would have a significant impact on the stability of soil slope. Finally, the main problems in the current research on soil slope stability evaluation and trailing edge tensile cracks were summarized and reviewed.