A dirty air filter can cause your car to stall, especially if the air filter is really dirty.
An air filter that is really dirty can restrict the airflow to the engine and disrupt the proper air-fuel mixture that is required for combustion.
The lack of air to the engine can result in rough engine idling, engine misfires and eventually a completely stalled engine.
An air filter that is just slightly dirty is unlikely to cause the engine or call to stall but it may also cause the engine to idle rough, decrease fuel mileage and reduce engine performance.
An car engines air filter should be changed at least once a year or sometimes more often if needed.
Other things that can cause a car to stall are fuel system issues, electrical system issues, weak battery, weak alternator, clutch problems in a manual car or issues with the ignition systems like bad spark plugs, bad ignition coils, or a bad distributor if your car has a distributor.
Even vacuum leaks, bad fuel injectors, clogged fuel injects, bad fuel, faulty DPF filter, bad engine timing, engine overheating, bad airflow sensors and other sensor failures can cause your car to stall.
A car can stall for several reasons which include bad ignition coils, bad ignition control module, low fuel pressure, clogged fuel injectors, clogged fuel filter, bad gas, bad fuel pump, bad spark plugs, a dirty air filter in some cases and even bad fuel.