Used Volkswagen Passat CC review and buying guide (2008 to 2012): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Volkswagen Passat CC should you buy?

A manual Passat CC with a healthy electric parking brake and sound rear springs is the safer buy, because the parking brake and snapping rear springs are both known faults across every version. There's only one generation, sold from 2008 to 2012, so it's the gearbox, the engine and the car's condition that decide it, not the year.

The DSG automatic is the gearbox to think hard about. Two owners had the clutches judder, one at 17,000 miles and one needing two clutch packs by 50,000 miles, and the 6-speed DSG on 2008 and 2009 cars was recalled in the UK because the clutch could open without warning and cut drive. If you want one, it has to pull away without any shudder.

Diesels need the most care. The 2.0 TDI carries a serious known fault on 2009 to 2011 cars, and the EA189 version can suffer EGR and DPF trouble once its emissions fix has gone on. Nothing singles out the petrols, but that's because there's little on them either way, so don't take it as proof they're sound.

Which Passat CC engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 2.0 TDI carries the biggest single risk: on 2009 to 2011 cars a leaking fuel filter can drip diesel onto the auxiliary belt, which then shreds and gets caught up in the timing belt. That wrecks the engine, and it shows up between 70,000 and 100,000 miles. Don't buy one without looking at the fuel filter and the belt yourself.

The EA189 2.0 TDI also had its emissions software changed after Dieselgate, and that's a known trigger for EGR valve failure and DPF blockage between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. One owner said his car overboosted above 70mph once the fix went on. Separately, another owner's 2010 2.0 TDI 170 had its EGR fail at 58,000 miles, and VW quoted £660 to replace it.

On petrol, one owner's 1.8 used a litre of oil every 1,400 miles, and one 3.6 had a dead auxiliary coolant pump, the part that keeps coolant moving round the head after a hot shutdown. That's two single cars, not a pattern. A manual isn't trouble-free either: one 2011 car, gearbox not stated, needed a clutch or dual-mass flywheel at 32,000 miles.

What should you check when viewing a used Passat CC?

Work the electric parking brake several times, since jamming on, refusing to release, a grinding or buzzing noise from the rear wheels, or a warning light all point to the known caliper motor fault. Then check the rear discs: one owner had a pulsing brake because the inner face corroded while the car stood with the brake on.

Look at how the car sits. A low rear corner or knocking from the back over bumps means a snapped rear coil spring, which is a known fault and more so on cars that have been parked up for a while. On the drive, heavy steering at low speed or a steering warning light means the power steering needs looking at, and a key the car doesn't recognise points to a failing ignition lock.

Run the air conditioning and make sure it blows cold, because compressor failure is a known fault on cars past 50,000 miles. On a DSG, feel for judder pulling away in first and second, and ask for proof the gearbox software recall was done on a 2008 or 2009 car. Check the tyre valve stems too, as they can corrode and snap off.

Ask for receipts for any EGR, DPF, steering, clutch or parking brake work, and for proof the recall work was done: a driver's airbag inflator that damp can weaken on 2008 to 2012 cars, high pressure fuel pipes that can leak on 2009 to 2011 2.0 TDIs, and a starter solenoid on 2011 diesels with stop/start that can overheat and start a fire. Solid black paint chips easily at the front, and the RNS510 sat nav's a theft target, so check it's the original unit.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Volkswagen Passat CC cost to run?