The internal springs of the flywheel tire, and the two discs knock against each other. The signs are a rattling or knocking from the bellhousing at idle and when releasing the clutch pedal, and vibration through the floor. If the clutch slips without a burnt smell, that also points to the flywheel. It is worth replacing in time: a disintegrated flywheel can destroy the bellhousing too. At a clutch replacement the two go together anyway.

The CC does worse in the roadworthiness test statistics than the saloon or estate Passat built on the same base, and it does so at lower mileage, for a reason the reports do not explain either. The failures are led by the wheel suspension, the springs and the dampers. Above five years of age the picture gets noticeably worse: that is when the driveshaft faults arrive, and the engine management and emissions checks also fail more often than average. On top of that the ADAC reports faults around the fuel pump, the injectors, the rear wheel brake cylinder and the turbo. An important model year line: the figures for cars built from 2011 onwards are already significantly better.