Investigation: Eying replacement inflators

An automakers’ coalition known as the Independent Testing Coalition (“ITC”) has found a combination of heat and moisture was responsible for the exploding airbag defect, after hiring Virginia based Orbital ATK to take part in the investigation

This discovery is just one part of a multi-layered investigation. The coalition says they are now in the process of looking at the performance of the replacement inflators used.

Project director David Kelly says a testing plan is reportedly being developed right now. He says researchers have to replicate an aging process on the inflators. Monitoring the high temperature cycle of the new parts can apparently take between five to nine years.

“We don’t want to put a specific time frame down but we do know that this is a very important part of the testing and we want to make sure we are able to get information into consumers’ hands.” Explains Kelly.

Researchers say the most important thing affected consumers can do in the meantime is to go ahead and replace the defective parts. Click here for a list of recalled cars.