A hissing or odd sound from a VR lens is often normal, because the vibration reduction system can make noticeable noises during operation. The first thing to do is a simple test: switch VR off and listen again.

• If the noise goes away with VR off, it’s likely just normal stabilization noise.
• If the noise is still present even with VR off, it may be worth having the lens checked by a repair shop or service center.

A cleaning or CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) might be suggested, but there’s no guarantee that cleaning alone would fix the problem. Dust inside a lens usually doesn’t cause obvious focusing noise by itself.

So the practical next step is to isolate whether the sound is coming from the VR system or from the focus mechanism, then decide if service is worthwhile.