The Air We Breathe in our Vehicle Most people do not think about the air quality in a vehicle. Most of us notice when we open the door our vehicle has a specific scent. Where does that come from? It comes from us. Not just from how we smell, but also from the things that have been in the vehicle besides us. If the vehicle has a Cabin Air filter it can also create or help trap smells in the vehicle. This picture is of a cabin air filter. Not only does this filter trap dirt and debris to keep the cabin air clean but once it gets so dirty it also grows bacteria, and in some cases mold. So if your vehicle has a funky odor, you may want to have the cabin air filter changed, or at least checked.