18-55 IS has died

My 18-55 IS has suddenly decided not to move anymore.
I mean, first it couldn't autofocus from infinite to MFD (didn't do anything to cause that, i didn't drop it or such) and now its AF is completely non working.
What the hell?
Has anybody had the same experience? I know it's a pretty cheap lens but my god it's fragile to the point it broke itself for no reason.

Mine is a lot more durable than I would expect. I had a geared belt around it to focus for a school project last year and I dropped it 3 feet down onto concrete over the summer and it still works flawlessly. It had a spat where it would miss autofocus but now it always hits it.

What's with my equipment committing suicide then?
If i AF i can barely hear a weak sound inside the lens, looks like the motor doesn't even try to move or it can't at all at least.

Make sure the AF/MF switch is turned to AF

FuturamaJSP wrote in post #13098176
Make sure the AF/MF switch is turned to AF

Come on, don't be so predictable.
Of course it is set to AF.
It autofocuses to infinite from time to time but only if i hold the camera (and thus the lens) in a particular position.

I've just partly disassembled my 18-55 IS and noticed the flat cable that is connected to the "focus barrel" is cut. Nice...i wonder how it still manages to focus to infinite then.
:S

i think you should consider the option to get a brand new equipment like a D7000 with a powerful 18-55 VR

Mine experienced a similar AF failure after 15 months of moderate use.

Nikon User wrote in post #13098381
i think you should consider the option to get a brand new equipment like a D7000 with a powerful 18-55 VR

Of course, would you like buying me one? I am not a Canon fanboy after all, Nikon does good stuff too.

I wonder how it cut itself since there's no moving part touching or even close that cable.
I've contacted an ebay seller from USA and asked for the part. Seems a good deal for less than 10 euros.

Yup - mine broke spontaneously with only light use and no abuse. I set up a poll a few months ago on this - there's probably a link somewhere.

I assert that it is a design flaw; Canon (NZ)'s response was a masterpiece of disinterest.

ilguercio wrote in post #13098104
Has anybody had the same experience? I know it's a pretty cheap lens but my god it's fragile to the point it broke itself for no reason.

Yup - exactly the same failure after almost 3 years of light use, never dropped.

Has anybody tried to fix the problem by fitting a new flex cable to the lens? I've found a seller, i am just a bit worried about destroying my lens once for all.

I've had mine since Sep 2007 and it still works like new. no issues.

That cable is known to break. It's the action of zooming the lens in and out over time that wears it down, if I recall correctly.

I'm sure you can replace the cable, if you're capable of soldering very small contacts. You'll have to decide if it's worth the time and effort, or if you'd be better served simply replacing the lens.

Chuck it in the bin - its not cost effective to repair