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.

[janet1]

I had exactly the same problem but the timing couldn't have been worse. I was preparing to travel and needed to print my boarding pass. Well, that isn't terribly serious but when I returned from my travels (late evening December 7) I now learn that date was the deadline for getting into the class action suit.

It infuriates me that Canon denies that there is anything wrong. 

Can't they read??? Where do they think these complaints are coming from.

I have been recommending Canon printers to my friends but no more. And assuming I now need to replace this printer, it won't be a Canon.

Unfortunately I just bought new ink cartridges and they are expensive. When I check to see what other Canon printers they can be used with, it seems that my store doesn't sell them. Weird. Is this a gimmick??

[pebbles3sandi]

Exact same problem here. PIXMA MG 5320.

Can't even get a replacement of the same printer anymore! Bought this for just over $100 a little over a year ago, now comparable models are $350!?

This is obviously not a printhead issue and the manufacturer needs to pony up for its consumers. Cannon product users tend to be die hard fans and devoted buyers.... ignoring this problem is just going to cause loss of customer loyalty!

Action for this issue is required or a class action suit will be necessary.

It's as simple as a recall for all printers with this error code and the original printhead.

What a waste of a previously perfectly functionong machine!

[pebbles3sandi]

The printheads are almost as expensive as the printer itself. More worthwhile to buy a new printer from another company.

[janet1]

Hi --

Actually a class action suit was filed against Canon. Unfortunately for me (and probably for you) the deadline for getting in on the suit was December 7. My problem occurred shortly before that date (Dec. 3) but I left town and returned evening of Dec. 7. Alas!

My printer actually woke up and behaved nicely for a brief period after I first had this error situation. I was already about to purchase an HP printer with all the same functionality for $50 at Staples, when my Canon MG5320 came back to life after I plugged it back in. I then ran the built-in maintenance processes including a deep clean of the ink nozzles. The next thing I printed was perfect -- and now it's not working again. Back to the same problem.

So you might look into buying an HP printer. I won't buy another Canon given this issue and the fact that relatively new printers are experiencing this problem. According to the class action suit documentation, Canon denies that there is anything wrong. You can read all about it if you google Canon class action lawsuit. It is going to cost Canon $930,000 to settle with the claimants. 

Good luck finding a better printer.

[zeke04]

I have a iP6000dD that has just recently stopped working, spitting out the dreaded "incorrect print head installed" error with 5 yellow flashhes and one green flash. When I open the top cover the message changes to an error code 5100 and the print head carriage will not move from the rightmost position in order to chack the print head. Is this the same error that is being disccussed in this thread?

[janet1]

Sounds like the same problem. I think I also got a different error code after first getting the U052 error.  

Now I have a new HP printer but am missing the nice quiet Canon printer that just died. I'm considering returning the HP printer and going back to Canon. But if I buy a Canon printer, I'm definitely going to get an extended warranty.

Good luck.

[nash123]

Great - mine died today with U052. I have a MX892. Anyone else looking to see what to do since the date has expired?

[jipajapa]

I had the same problem. Looks like my MX892 will need to be disposed of since it is non-functional in view of this error. No more Canon products for me.

[nash123]

Lucky for me I found a very gently used 892 for $40, which included a brand new pack of 4 cartridges. Jumped on it. This way I can still use my old cartridges, the new cartridges, and I still have a working printer with a print head that would have cost me at least double that price to buy online.

[timrhorn]

Same here. My MX892 just died today with the U052 error.