I usually get 30K miles from an air filter.

 

$14 on Amazon - takes literally 5 minutes to replace.
Bosch 6092C HEPA Filter

 

I have just over 6000 miles in 1 year and the dealer replaced my cabin filter along with the oil/filter change and rotating tires. All this was no charge and completed under the free 2 year maintenance. I didn’t think anything of it as it was no cost to me.

 

The dealership is reimbursed by Subaru, so... the dealership was reimbursed by Subaru. Haven't replaced our 2021 yet approaching 30k and today was 96 F and has roof and the windows down, no A/C so ...therefore eliminated the cabin filtre. Never use in warmer months, A/C ever.

 

Cabin Air Filter you only need to change when it is dirty, cheap between $15-20 on the aftermarket DIY. It's not engine oil you need to change every 6 months. Cabin Air Filter really depends on how often you use the ventilation in the car. You're not gonna die or anything, what worse than breathing air outdoor in a city with rolled down windows? No differences.

Engine intake air filter is different, that needs to change about the same interval as engine oil.

 

^^This 100%

 

Pg 276 of the Owners Manual has step by step how to replace on the 2024

I own mine a year this week. 18K miles. Just did service and YES I have a NEW Cabin Filter to put in, but the factory one was barely dirty, Tapped it on the ground upside down, little dirt came out. Put it back in. Will recheck at 24K.

 

All depends on what type of air has been going thru the ventilation system during that time period. Some folks only recirc their air, some don't, and some mix it up. I will generally shake out the air cabin filters of any loose/course debris. If the pleats look THAT dirty or bad, then I just replace it. Amazing how some of us survived in vehicles that did not have these "in-cabin' filters. We were lucky if our folks smoked filtered cigarettes and cracked open the windows We seemed to survive so far?

EDIT: I honestly just treat the "filter" as a filter for leaves and larger items. The ventilation systems in all these new vehicles is NOT a closed system, so lots of air does not get filtered. Preventing a leaf from getting caught in the blower motor, and causing that annoying ticking sound until it moves or gets taken out is what this filter helps with IMO. Plus its a good stopping point for those rodents that enjoy all the soy based plastic parts in these new vehicles.

 

All depends on what type of air has been going thru the ventilation system during that time period. Some folks only recirc their air, some don't, and some mix it up. I will generally shake out the air cabin filters of any loose/course debris. If the pleats look THAT dirty or bad, then I just replace it. Amazing how some of us survived in vehicles that did not have these "in-cabin' filters. We were lucky if our folks smoked filtered cigarettes and cracked open the windows We seemed to survive so far?

Glad you enjoyed the laugh @BillLin

 

What most people miss most is the Cabin Air Filter is NOT primarily to filter the air we breath, as most point out IF you think this way, NEVER roll down your window or get out of the car.

It's primary purpose is to keep the heater and more importantly the A/C evaporator fins free of dirt and dead leaves or pine needles. When these get into the heater or evaporator then mold can grow. Keeping the fins of these clean prevent this and the AWFUL SMELL that used to accompany cars HVAC use come spring and summer when it's warm and moist to grow mold on decaying vegetation. As well as keeping the system working efficiently.

How many of these I cleaned or tried to disinfect in the past before Cabin Filters became the norm.

 

I don't know if our Subarus configure the cabin air filter to remove debris from clogging heater and evaporator to ward against mold and mildew growth. Unless I can examine service manuals, I don't assume so. My previous car (owned for 21 years) uses a large cabin filter, twice the area of the intake air filter and never stopped mold/mildew growth.

After several years of replacing cabin filters, once with charcoal, and using Ozium, stinky socks always returned. I discovered something cheap and inexpensive - baking soda. Sprinkled everywhere in the ductwork under the windshield cowl, turning on the blower to draw in BS powder into and distribute to all interior ducts..........the stink was gone. The first time, I overdid sprinkling as a fine dust still wafted thru the interior for a few weeks but no more stink. BS absorbed every malodorous stink, allowing clean, stink free airflow into the interior for several years before another treatment (using less). If anyone has their vehicle with foul odors coming from vents, I highly recommend baking soda powder to distribute into every nook and cranny to absorb odors and counteract mold/mildew growth.

 

there is no mileage correlation to changing the cabin air filter.
it depends on where you drive and even park.
Under trees will get you leaves in the filter whether you drive 10 miles or 10,000.
Cheap and easy enough to change yourself.
Don't blame it on Subaru.

 

Don't have an answer for the OP's question, but will say that I live an a super dry area that dusty as ****, and I change mine far more often than prescribed. Same with the engine air filter. But that's the desert for you.

 

Are you positive that the video of the dirty cabin air filter was from 'your car'?

 

They walked around my car videoing tires and then came to a workbench with the filter on it. So no, I'm not sure.

 

I'm sure they're trying to upsell you.

 

Definitely doesn't sound right and $54 is robbery. I'd let Subaru corporate know and then find another dealer.

 

maybe not
a filter is 10 bucks or so
a tech makes 20 bucks an hour (half hour to get the filter from parts, put it in, deal with trash, bring the car around).
there's insurance, cost of operation (mortgage or rent plus utilities plus, employee costs), service writer paperwork and credit card charges
It's not that bad.
But if you've never been in any kind of business, it's robbery.

 

IMO Dealership/ repair center Cabin Filter replacement is one of the biggest rip off tactics that they can do. The cabin filter is one of the easiest to replace and only costs about $15. We had a Toyota Scion xD that went in for it's first check up and they changed the cabin filter and wanted $120 just for the filter and labor for changing. I told them to take out the new one and put back the old one. They said they couldn't because they already threw out the old one and I told them, "fine, then just take out the new one and don't put anything in it's place." I never went back to them again. A privately owned auto repair shop tried to do the same thing and I told them the same and never went back.
So when I just took my 2024 Crosstrek with only 4240 miles on it for it's first State Inspection and Oil Change I was ready for them. The day before taking it in, I took out both the Cabin Filter and Air Filter, checked them out and took pictures of the barely used filters and put them back in. Luckily, my new Subaru dealerships did not try this 'Dirty Filter Scam' on me. They just did what I took it in for. Kudo's to my new Subaru dealership.
YouTube is full of "how to change your cabin filter videos". If for some reason you would rather not change out your own filter, ask a friend if they would do it. Or, be prepared for the excessive over charge to replace these filters at a dealership or repair center. (my two cents)

 

We purchased a 2024 CrossTrek in 01/2024, currently with 4,500 miles. It was taken in for our first mainstence inspection today, 06/17/2024, and while waiting in the serice area, we received an email that service was needed on the vehilce, which included a new cabin air filter. They had a video of the filter showing it had caught considerable dirt particles and a small leaf.

This is our first Subaru, having owned Toyotas only for over 40 years. In all of the years owning a Toyota I never have had a cabin air filter become dirty so quickly. Which makes me wonder what the differnce would be between how Toyota and Subaru process their cabin air through the filter.

I know this might seem trivial to some, but I just paid $30,000 for a CrossTrek, and then to have the dealer say I needed to pay $54, at 4,500 miles, seems like a joke. I live in the same area of where I owned Toyotas and never have I had to replace a filter that often, which I inspected and replaced on my own.

Is there a difference between how Toyota and Subara process cabin air?

 

You can change your cabin filter by yourself.

 

We purchased a 2024 CrossTrek in 01/2024, currently with 4,500 miles. It was taken in for our first mainstence inspection today, 06/17/2024, and while waiting in the serice area, we received an email that service was needed on the vehilce, which included a new cabin air filter. They had a video of the filter showing it had caught considerable dirt particles and a small leaf.

This is our first Subaru, having owned Toyotas only for over 40 years. In all of the years owning a Toyota I never have had a cabin air filter become dirty so quickly. Which makes me wonder what the differnce would be between how Toyota and Subaru process their cabin air through the filter.

I know this might seem trivial to some, but I just paid $30,000 for a CrossTrek, and then to have the dealer say I needed to pay $54, at 4,500 miles, seems like a joke. I live in the same area of where I owned Toyotas and never have I had to replace a filter that often, which I inspected and replaced on my own.

Is there a difference between how Toyota and Subara process cabin air?

I went to the dealer for an oil change at 6000 mi., and they told me I needed a cabin filter, and showed me a dirty filter. I questioned it, and later they said they made a mistake, it was from a different car, and apologized. Gotta watch them.

 

No but there is a difference in how badly different stealerships will rip you off. New filter on Amazon 12 to $16 takes under 5 minutes to install yourself. Please never give this kind of simple stuff to a stealership. They will rip you off every time. My local dealer actually wanted $69 for the same garbage service.

 

$69

nice.

 

I can't say what your driving conditions are in the area you live. That might account for the condition of your filter. 4500 miles does seem way to frequent but if it is very dirty it is cheaper to replacing a filter then not having adequate HVAC or having an evaporator or heat coil glaze over with dirt causes by a collapsed filter.

 

I would have contacted Subaru and asked what the expected life of the filter is. Some dirt is fine...a leaf can be picked out.. I had my 2021 Crosstrex filter was changed at 20,000/miles and yes, they charge a fortune... something about disinfecting the whole area around it... $70+

 

That Air Filter was supposed to be free and you should have done the oil change as well

 

Bump-to-bump 36,000 mile warranty. Includes brakes, rotors, pads, windscreen wipers, everything. Free

 

In my 2009 Pontiac Vibe, I had to change my cabin air filter early because somehow, a mouse got in there and chewed it up. How do I know it was a mouse. I pulled him out with the chewed up filter. I was wondering what that smell was.

 

We purchased a 2024 CrossTrek in 01/2024, currently with 4,500 miles. It was taken in for our first mainstence inspection today, 06/17/2024, and while waiting in the serice area, we received an email that service was needed on the vehilce, which included a new cabin air filter. They had a video of the filter showing it had caught considerable dirt particles and a small leaf.

This is our first Subaru, having owned Toyotas only for over 40 years. In all of the years owning a Toyota I never have had a cabin air filter become dirty so quickly. Which makes me wonder what the differnce would be between how Toyota and Subaru process their cabin air through the filter.

I know this might seem trivial to some, but I just paid $30,000 for a CrossTrek, and then to have the dealer say I needed to pay $54, at 4,500 miles, seems like a joke. I live in the same area of where I owned Toyotas and never have I had to replace a filter that often, which I inspected and replaced on my own.

Is there a difference between how Toyota and Subaru process cabin air?

I have a 18 crosstrek and usually I will just take out the filter from behind the glove box door and vacuum it. 5 minutes and done.. A new filter if you" Really" need one is $30. at O Riley's

 

Misunderstood. The cabin filtre longevity is a variable. If we're parking outside under oak trees or foliage season, the cabin filtre can be full of seeding spinners. Read below URL

https://www.subaruxvforum.com/threads/cabin-engine-air-filter-were-so-dirty-at-20k-miles-whoaa.94697/

 

They're inexpensive