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.

[DB55]

My second Cannon printer just died within a year of purchase. I'm taking it back to Costco. I won't buy another Cannon product. This is crazy!

[GG]

My MX892 got the 052 error couple of weeks ago. How many hours have I spent trying to find a solution (from calls to Canon Service to scouring forums like this and those "fixit" service "experts" who are cluless). The options I've received:

First, do that careful removal and re-install. Hah! Thanks, Canon!

Then, do that careful cleaning of the contacts. Nope.

Junk it.

Buy a new MX922, which has no (very useful for check printing) gravity feed rear tray.

Buy a new printhead for about $100 with no guarrantee if it doesn't work.

Buy a refurb printhead which prints black only (don't ask me how).

Everthing was going so well for 14 months. I just cannot put this possibly salvageable printer on the street. It offends me. So I'm going to revert to monochrome and take a chance on that refurb ($20 at Ali-express, free shipping and they claim they will take it back if it doesn't work). I use this for office work and use dedicated Epsons for color printing scanning.

As we're all aware, these machines are merely containers for expensive ink cartridges. It's a pity they couldn't be made better, or covered by a re-call policy, even if it cost a little more.

[GG]

This is a follow-up to my post of 4/10/15. 

THIS REFURBISHED PRINTHEAD WORKS FOR ME!

This product comes with an important caveat, that full color printing may be lost or compromised.

For me that was acceptable. For most users probably not. I just got it, plugged it in and got 2 good color prints. Maybe it will just do black after more use. But for a business-use MFC it's OK for my needs. Now I can print from the rear tray. 

GG

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/print-head-QY6-0080-Original-refurbished-Pirnthead-for-Canon-IP4820-M...

[Missdiana_MT]

Has anyone heard if Canon plans on doing anything about this print head error ordeal...mine went stupid too

[Aardvark]

Don't hold your breath. It has been going on for nearly 18 months and Canon hasn't done anything yet apart from delete postings telling how to join the class action lawsuit.

[Missdiana_MT]

As far as I can see...changing out the print head hasn't helped anyone yet, or else I missed something...dang, I guess it's time again to spend more money on another printer....it's hard to know which one u can trust anymore.

[Aardvark]

I'm sure there are a lot of good printers out there and its a matter of personal preference but assuming no one would be dumb enough to buy another Canon I could recommend Brother. They have a strong business ethic and although they are a bit "clunky" in operation they are reliable and seem to be tolerant of non-OEM cartridges. Personally I have given up on inkjets because they don't like being left unused for long periods. I now have a laser and will never go back.

[resisterdiode]

I just received this same error message tonight on my Canon MG5320. Seems like this printer was designed to fail, by reading through some of these posts going back over a couple of years. Wish I would have known that when purchasing this printer...   Well, has anyone been able to fix this issue or is this a death sentence for your printer. I am a full time student and this is really effecting my student work... need some Help Canon!!!

[barryalmo]

Add me to the list of disgruntled FORMER Canon Printer customers My Pixma 5320 was an excellent product til I first got error 5200 (no repair reference in the manual) This is now error UO52 Wrong Printhead Maybe we should mail our defective units to Canon COD to take action CANON SUCKS .... PASS IT ON !!!!

[barryalmo]

I actually got a prompt 1 day reply to my query thru the canon site ... they say to remove and clean the contacts with alcohol + swab ... or get a replacement they will send for 145$ !!!  To the landfill she goes 😞 😞 😞