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.

[Harry0]

I agree. Just because the print head isn't working that doesn't mean should not be blocked from scanning or printing to a file. I've dumped Canon and will no long purchase their products.

[JohnWPB]

Whenever I go into Best Buy, Office Depot ect, I make sure to steer at least a few people away from Canon printers.  I actually printed up a card with a QR code to give people,  that links to this thread as proof.  I make sure to scatter a few of the cards around the Canon printers before I leave as well 🙂

I have found Epson printers lately to be a nice Canon replacement.  Decent printers with good specifications, and decent ink prices as well.

[wmahowald]

I'm done too, this is rediculous.  MX892 with the U052 Printhead error.  I use this device 99% as a scanner and print a sheet every now and then.  Printhead error prevents scanning?!?!?  Later Canon...

[jeromeleegriffi]

I have been cursed with the dreaded wrong printhead error as hundreds and hundreds of other people. This printer was very very lightly used and was working totally fine one day then the error comes up. I was burned a few years ago on a Canon printer and I refused to ever purchase a Canon again. After years of going HP I decided to give Canon another go. Bad move! I am yet again cursed with an unfixable error. I am not only out the money spent on the printer but also on all the inks. I am very tech savvy and have tried every single " solution " known to no avail. I see this error has been going on now for over 3 years with very little help from Canon. I am Never ever buying Canon again. Canon states that if reseating the cartridges and the print head and unplugging it for 10 minutes doesn't fix it that it will have to be sent in for service. This DOES nothing to fix the problem and Canon knows this. This is horrendous customer service. It would cost more than it is worth and they know this. I am so sick with this error. Surly Canon knows how to correct the issue. Please Canon save face and help us!!! I a, very tech savvy. Just post a how to video or something as to what is causing this problem so we can try to get going again.

[cyberdan]

Jerome I am 6 days behind you in finding this forum. I got the U052 message today. Printer worked fine yesterday. Good thing I also have an Epson to fall back on. Their customer service was very polite and friendly but within two minutes said he had to fwd me to the product replacement department. He said Canon will replace at a discount. Sounded great till I talked to the next person. My model is no longer made or stocked so he will offer me a new model at a discount. Still sound good? Read on. My only requirement was the need to print directly on a whiteface CD. He came up with model MX922 at around $109.99 + tax, but he will discount to $98.99. That is not much of a discount when they admit that there is this problem that can not be fixed. 

Guess what? ebay has the MX922 for $79.99 & no tax.

Has any body figuered out what they are doing? There is nothing wrong with my printer. I feel Canon has just programmed the the machines to randomly shut down so you have to buy a new printer. It is not hurting Canon to give a $10 discount. If they were really sinsere on the problem a 50% discount would show good faith.

[kalmia]

It HAS to be a firmware problem. What are the chances that both of my canon pixma printers would have this same error message come up at the exact same time!!!! I have a backup printer for those times when my office printer has a problem. Now I can't use either one. It's a huge problem for my business!

[kalmia]

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I own two canon pixmas MG5320 and MG8120 and have relied on them for a number of years. One is for the family. One for my office. When my office computer got the U052 Printhead error a few days ago, after trying the usual fixes, I turned to my backup family printer that's hardly used. I got the exact same error on that printer. Same day. How is that possible other than crippleware?

[jercameron]

My Canon MG5550 has just failed today with the 1403 error code. It was working earlier today without any issues. I've also removed and cleaned the print head as recommended, as reported by everyone else, this has not fixed the problem.

[Sylvie_987]

Using my printer Canon mg6220 this morning and got the UO52 Wrong Printhead Error! Is there a bypass to this error yet?

[Sylvie_987]

Me too MG6220