Cabin air filter

Safety

• Keep a filter installed. Running the system without one can let foreign objects in and can degrade or damage the system.
• Behind the glove box is not a measured layout. This page does not draw the dash.

Symptoms

• Reduced airflow or a dusty smell is a reason to have the filter replaced on the schedule. It is not a reason to run the system with no filter.

Diagnosis

1. The section lists three benefits: less particle concentration, a cleaner cabin, and protection for the climate-control components.
2. Replacement instructions beyond the dealer sentence are not printed. Do not invent the glove-box stops.

Tools

• None listed

  The manual says to see an authorized dealer to replace the filter. It does not list a glove-box screw.

Specifications

Steps

1. 01Find the filter

   The climate-control section says you can locate the cabin air filter behind the glove box.

   1. It is a particle filter for comfort, cleanliness, and the climate-control parts.

2. 02Leave the housing closed

   For additional information, or to replace the filter, see an authorized dealer. The page does not describe removing the glove box.

   1. The schedule still names the interval: every 20,000 miles (32,000 km).

3. 03Use FP-79

   Each gasoline parts table in this printing lists cabin air filter FP-79.

   1. That number is not a 2020-only number. Confirm the year anyway, because other service parts in these books do change.

Common mistakes

• Running the fan with the filter removed.
• Drawing a glove-box drop the book does not describe.
• Treating the 20,000-mile line as permission to invent the procedure.

Parts and tools

Outbound links only. BaySheet does not sell parts. Confirm fitment on the retailer page. Amazon links are searches for a real part name plus this vehicle. Tool rows do not get a product search. The search is not a part number.

• Part

  Motorcraft FP-79 cabin air filter

  Listed for the 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.5L, 3.5L EcoBoost, and 5.0L. The manual does not print the steps to reach it.

  FP-79 in the 2017 F-150 owner's manual (opens in a new tab)Search Amazon.com (affiliate link) (opens in a new tab)

• Tool

  None listed

  The manual says to see an authorized dealer to replace the filter. It does not list a glove-box screw.

  Cabin filter note in the 2017 F-150 owner's manual (opens in a new tab)

Questions

Sources

• 2017 F-150 Owner's Manual, second printing, edition date July 2016, cabin air filter (opens in a new tab). Ford Motor Company. Published 2016-07-01. Read 2026-10-15.

Checklist and email notes

The maintenance checklist is on the site now. The email list is not sending yet, so this box will not store an address.

Other repairs on this 2017 F-150

All Ford F-150 repairs

Other years of this Ford F-150

Same repair, different model year. Use the page that matches the truck or car in the driveway. A figure on one year is not a figure for the next.

This repair on other vehicles

These guides cover the same kind of work. Their numbers belong to those vehicles, not to this one.