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.

[JohnWPB]

"There has now been a settlement of the U052 (Printhead) error.  Canon (USA) has agreed to reimburse those who have experienced this problem with $50 cash or a $75 voucher subject to certain conditions. "

This is the result of following the link, and clocking the "FILE CLAIM" button.

FILE A CLAIM

The deadline to submit your claim has passed. Any late claims submitted by mail, email or fax will be subject to Court approval.

[fraivert]

Hello everybody,

After reading during 9 months all the posts on this forum and seeing the desastrous manner that Canon handled this issue, I decided not to do like the guy who smashed it with a hammer to show to the entire Canon community how he feeled about this fiasco. On the contrary, I found a place, in my very little appartment, to store my printer with the 30 useless ink cartridges that could only fit with my "dead" MG5350.

Inspired by a recent comment of a perseverant guy who decided to understand really WHY this dreaded U052 error message couldn't disappear, I decided to follow his VERY long process (he had to put on and off his printer about a hundred times manipulating the cartridges in between...). In fact, the God of the printers saved the Canon soldier as my printer went right the first time I lit it!!!! Have I dreamt during all these months, in a strange paranoia, that Canon wanted to harm me personaly? I don't think so when I look at all the real bad experience of this U052 error all over the world related in this forum.

I now cross my finger and hope that my MG5350 will not die before I finish my cartridge stock.

And I keep, in the same place, the MP980 I found here and who saved me during 9 months. Just hoping that it will not be the same dreaded U052 wrong printhead error when I will need to turn it on again...

Hope not to come bak to this post ever again and just a word to you all: PERSEVERE!

[petethepen]

Guys.  I think there is an actionable case in small claims, if you want to go that route.  Canon markets their machines as "Multi-function" Printers.  The U052 error renders not only the printing but also the scanning functions inoperable.  This is a design flaw which could reasonably be considered a manufacturing defect.  The printhead has no function in the scanning process, and it therefore should not interfere with scanning, but Canon's manufacture has unnnecessarily shut down this function.  This means that the multi-function  part of the printer is not of merchantable quality.  Small claims court is reasonably inexpensive and Claimants and defendants cannot normally claim their costs.  Do you think Canon is going to send a lawyer to your local small claims court if you threaten to bring them there, or do you think they will re-imburse you for a new printhead?

[JohnWPB]

Guys.  I think there is an actionable case in small claims, if you want to go that route.  Canon markets their machines as "Multi-function" Printers.  The U052 error renders not only the printing but also the scanning functions inoperable.  This is a design flaw which could reasonably be considered a manufacturing defect.  The printhead has no function in the scanning process, and it therefore should not interfere with scanning, but Canon's manufacture has unnnecessarily shut down this function.  This means that the multi-function  part of the printer is not of merchantable quality.  Small claims court is reasonably inexpensive and Claimants and defendants cannot normally claim their costs.  Do you think Canon is going to send a lawyer to your local small claims court if you threaten to bring them there, or do you think they will re-imburse you for a new printhead?

You have a very good point trhere.  I wonder how long this message will remain up before the Canon forum moderators edit, alter or remove it for some sort of "forum guidlines" infraction 😉

I posted a video of a guy taking a hammer to a printer, and they edited my post and said it was against the guidlines.  I read their guidlines VERY carefully, and found no grounds whatsoever for them to edit my post.

[SueZ]

So...I guess I am a bit late. I have the MG5520. Doing the same darn thing! I don't even see this model in the lawsuit. The printer has been discontinued. The cost of a new printhead is more than a new one! WTH CANON!!! If I can't get it to work...I will never buy a Canon printer again, and will make it a mission to post comments telling people not to buy one everywhere they are sold online. Also the pink and blue cartridges need to be replaced, and I just put those in NEW less then 2 weeks ago! I only print mostly black and white!

[Terri1000]

So happy to get $50 dollars but if you have to have a receipt that you tried to have the print head replaced or repaired you will be out of pocket more than $50. Lawyers win customers not so much.

[GuyNamedJoe]

You don't need the receipt if you registered your product previously on the Canon Website.

In any case I do believe the claim application deadline has passed. If it was extended. you must check the settlement website!

[Terri1000]

Thanks for your input.  I believe the time has passed also.  I've tried contacting Canon direct giving them details with the error message number U052 and with all the things I tried to correct the problem.  You would think the message I sent them was in some Martian language. They got the error message number wrong B200 and told me what I should try to do to fix the problem which was exctly what I told them I already tried. Too frustrated to continue to attempt to fix this problem.  I will just purchase a new printer/scanner/copier and you can bet it wouldn't be a Canon.  Thanks again.

[itzke2]

I received the U052 error a month after the close date for the class action suite. The lawyers encouraged me to apply anyway- which i did. I just received notice that my claim was denied for missing the cut off date. There is no appeals process.

Like the rest of you, i am out a scanner and fax machine and after my interactions with Canon customer service WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CANON PRODUCT AGAIN. This includes their cameras. HP and Nikon here i come. 

[shaval123]

This didn't work for me.