When it’s time to change the cabin air filter in your 5th Generation Honda Odyssey (years 2018-2024), the Maintenance Minder will alert you with a maintenance sub code of 2. In my case, I had a B12 show up on my instrument cluster, which means that I’m due for an oil change and inspection (B), along with an engine air filter (1) and cabin air filter replacement. For more detailed information on what the various codes mean and how to reset the Maintenance Minder System when you’ve completed your service, check out this post.

For the Acura CL including the Type-S (model years 2000-2003), it is recommended that the cabin air filter be changed out every 24 months, or every 30,000 miles—whichever comes first. This is the same replacement interval as the engine air filter, so it may make sense to do them both at the same time.

On the second generation Lexus IS350 (years 2006 through 2013), Lexus recommends checking your cabin air filter (or as they call it, air conditioning filter) every 5,000 miles and replacing it every 10,000 miles. This might be a bit more aggressive of a maintenance schedule as you might typically see, with many paper cabin air filters typically requiring replacement every 24 months or about 30,000 miles. Regardless, you should be at checking your cabin air filter on a regular basis to ensure that it is not clogged up with dirt and debris.

It boggles my mind when vehicle owners change out their car’s air filter regularly, yet neglect the cabin air filter which filters the air that the people inside breath. When outside air comes into the vehicle, it passes through the cabin air filter before it enters the cabin. So in the interest of your health, you should change the cabin air filter out on a regular basis.