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.

[KBeck]

Hate to tell you this, but you are S.O.O.L.

Canon refuses to tell anyone the root cause of the "problem". Given that it shows up on Old Printers Only, it is strongly suspected that this is a scam along the lines of the Break All The Windows type in NYC who owned an auto glass emporium. This scammer, back in the days when more-or-less ubitquous public cameras were just coming on line, would run around the streets of Brooklyn breaking peoples' car windows in with a bat.

Not all of the victims of this perp would end up in his shop, but enough did to make it worthwhile. Until an unknown-to-him video camera caught him in the act, at which point hundreds and hundreds of busted-out windshields were traced back to him by the cops.

Canon is doing the same with printers; only, because of the DMCA, nobody gets to see their software bricking the printers so affected. Back when this first kicked in a decade ago a class action lawsuit was filed; before discovery was complete, Canon settled (more or less with the lawyers) and everybody else, since then, has been left in the lurch. This is the poster child of why settlements for things like this should be made public.

You see, you're the idiot: You bought a Canon. They got your money, you got nothing. Except, maybe, a "discount" on the next Canon printer they will urge you to buy, said discount being less than the amount you'd get off by buying at Amazon or NewEgg.

Canon=Crooks, when it comes to printers.

[stoike]

I am experiencing the dreaded error right now myself.  

I am making the last ditch/resort effort to clean the printer head, soaking it in hot water and cleaner which worked for some that tried it.   If it does not work, guess I am getting a new printer.

Unlike most of you, however, I am not overly upset with Canon, although I am sad to hear that they did not make any effort to fix the prolblem with any of you.

But I bought my printer (Pixma 6100) back in 2007, so have gotten14 years of great performance, and had a printer/copier/etc that was an envy of my parents and friends.    

Not sure what to get next.  Had my mind made up to get another Canon, but after reading many of these posts, I am much less sure what to do.

[barrysmoke]

canon pixma 892

worked great for years, then bam! U052

[Fklein23]

Dear terathopius: The link goes to a page that cannot be loaded.

[AEBY05486]

Mine is an MG7720. I need this specific model printer for the special ink for my photo restorations. At present, it's too expensive to replace. I keep getting the "wrong printhead" warning when there's nothing wrong with it! Because of this, I can't use the #1 drawer at all, but it USUALLY prints fine from the #2 drawer. But now even that one acts up, at the least convenient moments, but not all of the time. Since it still SOMETIMES prints beautifully, I'm sure this is a software problem. Yet research solutions that show up only try to sell you a new printer! Makes me furious! I don't have a thousand bucks--especially then I know this is a fluke.

[billtaylor]

MP 990 won't go away and the printer works flawlessly previous to the error.  I followed the clean print head instructions it works for a few prints then the euro returns again.  I will keep this printer as evidence of a functional printer with what I feel is a firmware block that is stopping me from working.  In my opinion if the firmware is forcing me to buy a new printer even though its functioning properly that is deceptive practices.  Screen showing my post should it be taken down.

[lalexander]

me too if it goes to class action

[Caerfree]

Canon Pixma MG5250.  I tried all recommended head cleaning, cartridge cleaning, manual reset.  Nothing has worked.

[HD1202]

MG5220 like everyone else....suddenly I have the wrong print head I have used since purchase. What gives Canon ?

I have cleaned the print head, I have done a hard reset with the same result. Does Canon suddenly stink ????