Call to Arms for the dreaded U052 Wrong Printhead Error

[macnicol]

This is a "call to arms" for all of you Canon customers who have had this problem and have had their printers disabled because of it.  Please respond with the model of your printer and if you were able to fix it, what you did to fix it. 

We need to put pressure on Canon to respond this product defect.  It appears to be bad firmware that does not allow the user to override the problem and to continue to use the printer even in a degraded mode.  From my investigations the problem is NOT a printhead issue - no way one can be printing fine and then have this error alert without having changed the printhead or ink cartridges!

Canon, PLEASE take this issue seriously and provide a solution across the affected models.  If nothing else there should be a trade-in allowance for those printers that have been affected by this product defect.

I have had many Canon printers because they have superior functional specifications. I want to be able to continue using Canon products but only if I can have confidence that this product defect will not destroy my investment.

If Canon is unresponsive our next step should be to aggressively publisize this product defect on social media and on major product vendor outlet sites as negatives reviews.

Forum Users, please reply with your affected model number(s) and with details of any succdessful fix procedure.

[Crnrst1]

My printer dropped dead yesterday of this sudden problem.  printed one page fine, next print job...BAMM!

I have a Pixma MG5320 and use it for our business.  Part of my sales are from this dedicated printer and for its one or two prints a day, I hate to have to spend $ on a new one and new cartridges, either.

I tried resetting the head, changing cartridges blinkng, powering off, shutting down the computer to clear any buffers...

I emailed support and got a quick answer that I needed to take it to a service center as it is out of warranty.  About 2 years old...

I liked it before yesterday.

If you are replacing printers, CANON, please let me know quick so I can get my business back up and running.

[antipasfoto]

I have MX850.

Just printed routine document then U052 error came up. Have not tried any fixes as yet as it has just happened.

[FitzBjorn]

Same problem as above.  MP600, worked perfectly, turned off for 4 weeks, turned on and U052 error appears.

Tried all of Canon's troubleshooting tips:  replacing / cleaning ink cartridges, reseating print head, powering down, disconnecting from power, data, etc., all to no avail.

Called (800) OK-CANON and was told that U052 is not really caused by a print head error, but a defective circuit board.  Was given the option to repair or replace at my expense.

It appears that many forum members have received a higher level of customer service from Canon than I was afforded today by the telephone representative.  Here's hoping that Canon makes things right for me as well.

[Aardvark]

And the very best of luck to you with that one.

[seniorelder]

Well Folks, I have given up and bought an Epson.  Giving me beautiful prints so far! However, I thought I would share with you the latest email correspondence I had with Canon afetr they told me that if my printer was over a year old they could only refer me to their service contractors who would charge for a repair.

My email to Canon...

Thank you for your further reply.  My printer is - was - just over four years old.  I appreciate that your hands are tied but I hope that you will be able to pass on to your superiors just how unhappy I, and many other customers, are.  The Canon USA forum website reveals just how many times this failure occurs and the price of a print head as a 'consumable item' at about 80% of the cost of the original printer just does not make sense.  It's like saying that the engine on a car is a consumable item.

So - I have deserted Canon and bought a new Epson printer.  No more ink revenues for Canon from me.  More unnecessary waste to landfill from the Canon factory. I will not recommend Canon printers to anyone else and I do hope that the *B*B*C W*a*t*c*h*d*o*g* run the item that they are clearly interested in to warn others away from Canon printers.

A very disillusioned former customer...  Please tell your head office!

Off to the dump tomorrow with a pristine printer - what a waste...

Canon's reply to me...

Thank you for your reply, your comments has been forwarded to our Marketing Quality department for review.

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

So suggest you all also bombard the Canon Marketing & Quality Department!  Or buy an Epson...(!)

Happy hunting!

[art2know]

We have a Canon MP610.  First we got a 5200 error all of a sudden then it popped up the U052 error and is completely bricked.  

Tried the fixes with no luck.  

Canon HELP!

[rad]

I just received the U052 error on our MP530.  I tried all the fixes on the discussion boards but nothing worked.  Looking for advice from Canon.

[seniorelder]

Well all I can say is don't hold your breath!

[knreed]

I too have had this issue with my printer. It had gone a few years flawlessly and then the dreaded message pops up. I tried the "fix" a few times and it didn't work. I think it's crazy  to have to pay for a new printer since I liked my printer so much. I hope Canon PM's me so they can take their defective printer back, figure out what's wrong and send me a new one. If not, I may go away from Canon printers for good. 

[tumbler]

I have owned my pixma MP800 for a few years and always been very happy with the product, then yesterday I got the message telling me I had installed the wrong printhead. After reading all the messages on this page I now realise this is Canon's way of telling me to buy a new printer. Yes I will buy a printer but on principal it will not be a Canon.