Disclosed is a method for detecting the clogging of an air filter including the following steps when the cross section for the passage of air in an intake tract is greater than a predetermined passage cross section: measuring a pressure in the intake tract at the end of a phase of admitting air into a cylinder; measuring a pressure in the intake tract at the end of an exhaust phase in a cylinder; and determining that the air filter is clogged by comparison between at least one pressure measured during a pressure measurement at the end of the phase of admitting air into a cylinder and, on the other hand, a pressure measured during a pressure measurement at the end of the exhaust phase, the filter being estimated to be clogged when the comparison yields a value higher than a predetermined value.