Where is the Cabin Filter on my Subaru? 

Typically speaking the cabin filter on your Subaru will be either behind the glove box or just below it, in the dash and ducting where the fresh air enters the cabin. Please see the Images Below from a 2016 Subaru Outback.

How long does a cabin filter last?

There are a lot of variables such as where the Subaru is used, the time of year and the overall climate where you use your Subaru. Your owners manual on most Modern Subaru’s will suggest a replacement interval of 15,000 miles however It really needs to be checked at every Oil change visit and replaced as needed.   

Good examples are if you take your Subaru Forester on many dry Forest Service Roads in the Summer the filter is going to become restricted with dust. If you replaced our filter in June it may need to be done again in September.  

Conversely if you reside in the great NW during the fall months with all of the pine or fir tree needles as well as leaves and also park outside there is a good chance a lot of that storm debris that collects on your Subaru Outback will make its way into the filter and restrict its flow.  So even if the filter was new in September it might be partially clogged by December.  

Why is it important to replace the Cabin filter? 

Virtually all of the air that enters the cabin area when you are driving is filtered through the cabin filter, this keeps harmful pollutants at a minimum but also can make the HVAC system have to work harder to keep you cool or to warm you up if the overall air flow is diminished as the cabin filter becomes restricted. The harder the system has to work the bigger the chance of an unwanted repair.  

How much is a Cabin Filter on a Subaru?  Cabin filters themselves can range from a MSRP of  $19.99 – $54.95. Note that at All Wheel Drive Auto we don’t tack on a labor charge like the Subaru Dealer does since most of the time we are inspecting it as part of a basic maintenance inspection.