Cabin filter OEM Nissan or OEM FORD

The biggest advantage with the activated type is that it picks up odours so you smell less of the fumes from outside

If you don't care about those just get the OE

What car do you have? I used to drive a Ford C-Max and getting to the cabin air filter was insanely hard.

I found the cabin air filter that came from the factory to be pretty basic and low quality. When I replaced it with a better one I instantly stopped smelling the wiper fluid/other cars exhausts.

There’s a 3rd party cabin filter with a carbon layer on Amazon that is significantly better than the ford cabin filter. I haven’t noticed anything since installing it.

The why shupack answered, the fix if you care could be to try a third party cabin air filter. If there are any out there with a larger amount of carbon in them (carbon absorbs odor) that'd help. Replacing the cabin air filter behind the glove box is fairly easy to do and several YouTube videos on it. Cheaper than having the dealer do it, and 3rd party filters claim to be better. We did notice less smoke smell from the wildfires last summer when I swapped out from OEM to whatever filter I put in.

I think it was my 80s bronco, like changing a cabin air filter. Undo hoses in engine bay, open glove box, open a door and slide it out and slide the new 1 in, attach hoses, close it up. Did it in less than 10min.

You ca replace your cabin air filter yourself and save yourself the money. I just replaced mine it’s like 4 screws but I must warn it’s a pain in the ass but it’s very doable.

Ford Fusion is almost this with labor. You have to take a ton of trim and bolts off. Even take out the glove box.

Not a mechanic but have to be because I have to keep our cars on the road. I'll tell you what the bastard that decides where cabin filters need to be. I want 5 minutes alone in a room with their ass. In my wife's Nissan I have to lay on the drivers floorboard upside down with half my body out of the car on the ground to gain access to the side panel that's next to the gas pedal. From there you have to pull out this accordion looking filter element out of it's chamber that is seemingly too small for it and once your back is killing you and all the blood has rushed to your head you have to somehow shove the new one in that isn't as old and flexible without passing out. As a 40 year old overweight dude it kills me.

I’ve changed the cabin air filter probably 4 times now, used a foam evap coil cleaner twice, ran Lysol thru the cowl multiple times, did a descent bomb in the car. At absolute best, this lasts for a couple weeks and then back to this gross mildew smell coming from vents.