Every video on youtube shows the filter is on the passenger rear side right near the fuel tank. Except there is nothing but an empty void where I thought my filter is supposed to be. Is the location different for my model year? The car has been starting rough lately and I wanted to try replacing it.

 

Metal gas tanks don't have fuel filters.

 

It is permanently attached to the fuel pump inside the gas tank, the part need no servicing.

 

^^Yeah^^ The filter appears to be a foot long in parts diagrams.
Also, It appears to be a pleated media filter of one sort or another. This is OK with me as some in-tank filters are described as "screens".