Stop printing if the same fault returns after one careful restart or basic recovery step.
Canon / TS5000 series

1403 - The printhead may be damaged and Canon treats it as a repair case.

The printhead may be damaged and Canon treats it as a repair case.

This guide is scoped to the TS5000 series family. Exact menu wording, cartridge naming, and service behavior can still vary by model variant and firmware.

Severity

High

Most likely cause

The printhead has developed an internal electrical fault.

Can you keep using it?

Usually no - see below

Consumables involved

Printhead

Can you keep using it?

Can you keep using it?

Contact customer support if any of these apply

  • !1403 appears at all after a restart, because Canon treats it as a repair path.
  • !The printer will not return to ready or reports multiple printhead faults together.
If the printer still starts normally: Try one careful restart or the first official recovery step, then stop if the same error comes back straight away.

What to check first

Step-by-step checks

  1. 1

    Safe first step

    Power the printer off once and leave it unplugged briefly before retrying.

    Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.

  2. 2

    Safe first step

    If the code returns, stop repeated print attempts.

  3. 3

    Escalate

    Gather the exact support code and model name before contacting Canon support.

Background

What this message usually means

Canon uses support code 1403 when the TS5000 series believes the printhead may be damaged. Unlike a simple reseat warning, Canon's official guidance points straight toward repair support, so this should be treated as a serious printhead fault rather than a routine cartridge issue.

Diagnosis

Likely causes

Most common

The printhead has developed an internal electrical fault.

Common

The printer cannot complete its printhead self-checks.

Possible

A prior printhead or carriage issue has progressed to a hardware fault.

Service

When service or replacement is more likely

  • -This is more serious than a missing-ink-tank or install-position warning.
  • -Repeated cleaning cycles are not a realistic fix for a persistent 1403.

See also

Related codes in this family

Source notes

Canon's official 1403 page says the printhead may be damaged and directs users to request repair.

Built around Canon TS5000-series official support-code guidance. Exact wording can vary a little by regional model name and firmware, but the support-code meaning stays close across the family.

Printer error codes can vary a little by firmware, region, and exact model variant. Use this guide as a family-level starting point and stop if the next step would require disassembly or service-mode changes.

Known family variants: TS5010, TS5020, TS5040, TS5050, TS5051, TS5053, TS5060, TS5070, TS5080, TS5090

Last reviewed: 2026-04-12

Reference: Open reference

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