[GuitarRepair]

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)

 

[nbsdave]

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.

 

[Steli]

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?

 

[Steli]

You can change your cabin filter by yourself.

 

[yrrabcosgrove]

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.

 

[CappyC]

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?

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?

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.

 

[CappyC]

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.

If you are replacing the engine air filter with every oil change you are throwing a lot of money in the garbage. Even my local stealership doesn't take it that far lol. My exceptional independent mechanic says 20 to 30,000 miles unless you're driving in horrifically Dusty dirty environments. I use an AEM dry filter good for 100,000 miles. Approximately once a year I pop it out, wash it let it dry and throw it back in. Been using those filters for close to 20 years now they're really good quality.

 

[wdstockjc]

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 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.

 

[niki91c]

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 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+

 

[Lonelydriver_95]

$69

nice.

 

[BDANTE]

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?

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

 

[VanceH]

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.

 

[hvaceric]

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

 

[Closed Case]

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/

 

[Closed Case]

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

 

[Closed Case]

They're inexpensive

 

[FinallyaSubaru]

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 think that is crazy. You can change the filter yourself! Super easy and the owners manual tells you how. save money and buy one from Rockauto or somewhere else.

 

[tmr013]

Wow! They tried this on me. Went in for my first oil change and they came out and showed me a pic of this filthy filter. I thought it odd it would be that bad They asked if I wanted it replaced, i said, is it covered by the service plan, they said no. I said no. Now I’m gonna go look at the filter. If it’s clean I’m gonna write Subaru. That’s BS

 

[Stock1234]

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

I love that bumper to bumper, I walk in and ask for wipers then have them warranty them out.

 

[gudentyte]

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

I love that bumper to bumper, I walk in and ask for wipers then have them warranty them out.

Not free. You've already paid, upfront, when you signed your sales agreement.