Weak A/C on 2012 JSW - VW TDI forum and Audi TDI forum

TEF · #1 08-08-2012, 03:36 AM

With the recent heat wave in the Northeast, my wife drove our 2012 JSW on a 400-mile trip thru NY state and into CT. With the temp in the low to mid 90's, she found it difficult to keep the car comfortable despite pushing the "recirc" button and putting fan on "high". At a rest stop, another JSW parked nearby and she asked the owner if his A/C had any issues. His response was that he too had a problem but after a trip to the dealer (under warrantly, I presume), it had been corrected. Moreover, he thought it to be a common problem with late-model JSWs - requiring them to be serviced by dealer.

Two questions: Does anyone here have any complaints about the JSW's ability to cool their vehicles and is there some well-known problem with JSW A/C units requiring a fix at the dealer?

While I like the car in every respect, one no longer expects second-rate A/C systems on European-designed vechicles. Therefore, I am hoping ours will be corrected by a trip to the dealer.

GAJim · #2 08-08-2012, 09:58 AM

So far the AC on my 2012 JSW has been fine. The first week I had was a week 100 degrees in Atlanta and I was quite comfortable. Mine was not set to recirculate and the blower was usually set to 2. It is much better than my wife's CC. Do you have a sunroof? Mine does not and that could make a difference.

macrum · #3 08-08-2012, 02:48 PM

I live in Austin Texas and we've hit over 110 and my A/C seems to be keeping up.

TonyChaudhry · #4 08-15-2012, 06:36 PM

I had about 35k miles on mine and it started being weak. I took it in and thankfully it was still under warranty and they replaced the compressor and a fitting. I hope I don't have to do it every 35k.

Philth · #5 08-16-2012, 10:43 AM

Ours seems to shut off for short period. Just long enough for one to realize the A/C isn't working. Hot air starts to blow, then the A/C comes back on. I'm going to have it looked at during our 90-day check up.

xeno555 · #6 08-19-2012, 01:13 AM

Take it to the dealer for warranty work.

TEF · #7 08-30-2012, 07:47 AM

To follow up on my initial posting, the car was taken to the dealer in Glastonbury, CT and they declared the temperature at the output of the A/C vents to be 35 degrees and normal. The service manager (I think), said that one should not compare the A/C's performance to that of other makes of cars. My spouse responded that comparisons aside, the A/C was not coping with 90-degree weather and that was her reason for visiting the dealer. In short, the VW's A/C struggled (full cool and fan at #3) while our 09 Hyundai Genesis and 04 Chevy Cavalier cooled without effort. Our first experience with a VW service department seemed a waste of time. I am hoping to find my old photo processing thermometer to see if I can achieve a 35-degree reading at the same vents. Until then, I remain skeptical of the service department's claim.