Complaint from Germany is moderate (7)
I believe the answer is:
disease
'complaint' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'germany is moderate' is the wordplay.
'germany' becomes 'd' (international vehicle registration code).
'moderate' becomes 'ease'.
'd'+'is'+'ease'='DISEASE'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for disease that I've seen before include "scurvy?" , "affection" , "scrapie for example" , "Bodily disorder" , "Seaside (anag) -- ailment" .)