2020 to 2024 Tesla Model Y cabin air filter replacement
Tools
- T20 Torx bit on a 1/4 inch drive ratchet or a T20 driver handle
- Plastic pry tool or wide plastic spudger
- Small flashlight or headlamp
- Optional: dedicated Tesla cabin filter T20 driver kit
Parts
- Standard cabin filter pair — Tesla 1107326 00 A (Basenor / Tesloid / EPAuto CP681 matched pair)
- HEPA upgrade set — Tesla HEPA cabin filter set, requires HEPA housing modification if not factory equipped
Steps
01Wake the car and empty the glovebox
Sit in the driver seat with the car in Park, foot off the brake, touchscreen visible. Empty the glovebox and set the contents in the passenger seat.
02Enter Cabin Filter Replacement Mode
On the touchscreen open Controls, then Service, then Cabin Filter Replacement Mode if your firmware offers it. This locks out the HVAC blower. If your firmware does not have this mode, just leave the climate off.
03Release the glovebox dampener
On the right side of the glovebox there is a small hydraulic dampener attached to a ball joint. Pry it off with the plastic tool, working gently. Do not yank. The ball is small and easy to snap.
04Release the left stopper pin
On the left side there is a plastic stopper pin. Depress it toward the inside of the glovebox until it clears the stop, and the glovebox swings all the way down to hang loose from its hinges.
05Remove the T20 screw on the filter cover
Behind the glovebox on the right side is a vertical rectangular cover with a single T20 screw at the top. Remove the screw and set it in a magnetic tray.
06Pull the plastic cover
Pull the cover off toward the passenger door. It clips at the bottom, so tug the top out first, then lift it up and away.
07Pull the upper filter
Two filters sit stacked vertically inside a tall slot. Pull the upper filter first, straight out toward you. It resists a bit because of the foam seals on the frame. Do not force it sideways.
08Pull the lower filter
The lower filter comes out the same way. Both are commonly found coated in pollen, and in wildfire-affected areas with a thin layer of soot.
09Inspect the cavity
Inspect the filter cavity with the flashlight. No debris, no water intrusion is what you want.
10Install both new filters, arrows up
Install the new lower filter first, arrow up, sliding it into the slot until it seats. Then the upper filter, same orientation. Airflow arrows on both should point into the HVAC box.
11Reinstall the plastic cover
Bottom clips first, then swing the top in and install the T20 screw. Please check your Tesla service documentation, but the torque spec is snug plus a quarter turn by hand, roughly 15 in lbs. Do not use a power driver on this fastener.
12Restore the glovebox
Swing the glovebox back up. Pop the left plastic stop back into position and press the right dampener back onto its ball joint. You will hear a soft click when the ball seats correctly.
13Exit filter mode and test
Exit Cabin Filter Replacement Mode on the touchscreen and turn the climate back on. Run the fan through low, medium, and high to confirm no rattles from a filter that did not seat all the way.
Notes
Reference guide. This is a general procedure compiled by Wrenchpit, not a first-hand write-up from one owner's vehicle. Torque figures, capacities and part numbers vary by model year, engine and trim — check them against your service manual and the labels on your old parts before you rely on them.
Applies to roughly 2020–2024 model years. Filed under 2022 because a guide carries one model year; check the range above.
The Model Y takes two cabin filters that live behind and to the right of the glovebox, stacked vertically inside the HVAC intake tunnel. Tesla recommends replacement every two years, but if you live in a wildfire zone, a heavy pollen belt, or a big city, once a year is more honest. Difficulty is a two out of five. Budget 20 to 30 minutes and 25 to 60 dollars for standard filters, or 80 to 140 for a HEPA upgrade.
The Model Y is always awake to some degree because of Sentry and cabin overheat protection. Do not leave the glovebox open for hours because it can trigger the interior monitoring cameras. No high voltage exposure on this job. The HVAC blower runs on the 12V system.
Some 2020 and early 2021 builds use a slightly different fastener that is a hybrid T20 slash 6mm. If your driver bit does not click firmly into the head, do not force it and strip it. Switch to a 6mm socket. Also, the filters must go in with the airflow arrow pointing into the HVAC box. Backwards install still works but reduces effective surface area by roughly half.
If the glovebox will not swing down after you have released both stops and the dampener, do not force it. There is often a lip of the surround trim catching. Take it to a Tesla service center or a mobile ranger, since forcing the glovebox breaks the hinge and that is an expensive repair. Also, if you smell burning plastic from the vents after the swap, the blower motor is failing separately from the filter and needs service.
Check your part number against the label on the old filter frames before you order. HEPA equipped cars need the HEPA set, and the frame label is right there once you have the old filters out.
Related guides
Browse all Tesla Model Y repair guides or all Tesla guides.
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