2015–2019 Subaru Legacy
By Tom Becker ✓ Certified Mechanic · Published Sep 21, 2026 · Updated Oct 22, 2026
Save $80 by doing it yourself! Shop cost: $100
Quick answer: Replace Cabin Air Filter on a 2015–2019 Subaru Legacy is rated Easy and takes about 10–15 minutes. Parts cost about $20. This guide walks you through the full job step by step, including the mistakes to avoid.
| Part Name | Part Number | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin Air Filter | 72880AL00A | $20.00 |
About prices: shown prices are typical retail averages and change frequently; cheaper alternatives may be available. Confirm the current price before buying.
💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping
Follow these steps carefully
Park on flat ground, set the parking brake, and turn the ignition off. Open the passenger door and empty the glove box — on the 2015–2019 Legacy the cabin filter lives behind it in the HVAC housing, and the box must drop fully.
Find the damper rod on the side of the open glove box — the piston that slows the door. Squeeze its retaining tabs and pull it off the mounting post. Don't lose it in the footwell; without it the door drops like a trapdoor.
I've learned: those damper rods love to roll under the seat and vanish. The second it comes off, it goes straight into your pocket — not on the floor, not on the seat.
Press inward on both sides of the glove box to clear the stop tabs from the dashboard, then let it swing down on its bottom hinge. The filter housing and its small access door are now visible in the cavity behind it.
The filter housing door is held by squeeze tabs along its bottom edge — pinch them together and pull the door toward you. Set it aside safely; it's thin plastic, and a cracked door won't seal the housing afterward.
Grip the exposed edge of the old filter and draw it straight out toward you. On this Legacy the printed arrows mark installation orientation rather than airflow, so study how the old one sat — the new filter goes back the same way.
This is the one car where the arrows don't mean airflow — I learned that the hard way and argued with a filter for twenty minutes. Photograph the old filter before you toss it.
Slide the new filter into the housing tracks in the same orientation as the old one, fully seated with no edge sticking out. Press the housing door back on until the bottom tabs click, then tug to confirm it's locked.
Swing the glove box back up, squeezing the sides past the dashboard so the stop tabs catch. Reattach the damper rod to its post and verify it locks. Open and close the box to confirm the damper slows it, then run the fan on high.
Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
2015–2019
2005–2009
2005–2009
2005–2009
2010–2014
2010–2014
