HP Colour LaserJet Print Quality Problems - Faded, Banded or Streaky Colour Fix (CP3525, M551, M570, M575)
HP colour laser print-quality guide
Faded, banded, streaky or ghosting colour on your HP Colour LaserJet CP3525, M551, M570 or M575? On these machines it is nearly always the image transfer belt or a worn toner cartridge — both quick to put right.
transfer belts from £135 · toner from £24
Covers this HP colour laser family
- CP3525
- CP3525dn
- CP3525n
- CM3530 MFP
- M551
- M551dn
- M551n
- M570
- M570dn
- M575
- M575dn
Does your print look like this?
- Colour looks faded, washed-out or uneven across the page
- Horizontal bands or lines running across colour areas
- A faint repeated (ghost) image further down the page
- Colours no longer line up — text has coloured edges
- Spots or marks repeating at a regular interval
- One colour is missing, streaky or much fainter than the rest
- Grey haze or background shading on white areas
- Toner smears or rubs off when you touch it
Match your fault to the fix
Whole page, all colours
- Faded or uneven colour, banding
- Ghosting or repeated images
- Colours not lining up
Likely the transfer belt. See the fix
One colour, or spots
- A single colour faint, streaky or missing
- Spots repeating at a set interval
- Grey background on one colour
Likely a toner cartridge. See the fix
Smears or won't fuse
- Print rubs off when touched
- Toner looks loose or unfused
- None of the above fits
Book a service. See options
Whole-page colour faults · the transfer belt
The image transfer belt (ITB) carries all four colours onto the paper. When it wears you get faded or uneven colour, banding, ghosting and poor colour registration — right across the page. A fresh belt is the fix. Both options below are Printer Genie refurbished — the HP transfer belt stripped down and rebuilt with new components, UK-despatched and backed by a 90-day warranty and GenieCare™ help.
Refurbished · transfer belt only
HP Transfer Belt (CC468-67927)
£135.00 CP3525 · M551 · M570 · M575
- Clears banding, ghosting, faded and uneven colour
- Refurbished HP transfer belt, rebuilt with new components
- GenieCare™ fitting help if you need it
- 90-day warranty
Refurbished · belt + transfer roller
HP Belt & Roller Kit (CD644-67908)
£145.00 M551 · M570 · M575
- Transfer belt plus the secondary transfer roller in one go
- Best if the machine is high-mileage or overdue
- Refurbished HP belt and roller, rebuilt with new components
- 90-day warranty
Warranty terms: see our Terms & Conditions.
One colour, streaks or spots · a toner cartridge
If the fault is limited to a single colour — one colour faint, streaky or missing, or spots repeating at a set interval — it is that colour's toner cartridge, not the belt. The right cartridge depends on your exact model, so pick from your model's range:
CP3525 / CM3530: HP 504 series (CE250 / CE251 / CE252 / CE253). See the 504X black cartridge or browse the full set.
M551 / M570 / M575: HP 507 series (CE400 / CE401 / CE402 / CE403). See the 507X black cartridge or browse the full set.
Not sure which colour or code you need? Send us a photo of a test page via contact us and we will confirm it.
Smears, won't fuse, or not sure? · Book a service
If print rubs off or looks unfused — or the symptoms don't match either of the above — the safe route is a service and fault diagnosis. We confirm the real cause, fit what is needed and test it before it goes back.
Colour laser service
Printer Service & Fault Diagnosis
£55.00 mid-range / colour printer
- Full fault diagnosis by a printer specialist
- We tell you the cause and quote any parts before we proceed
- Optional collection available
Rather ask first?
Send us a test page
Free we will point you to the fix
- Email a photo of a test print and your model number
- We tell you which part it is before you spend anything
- No obligation
Being straight with you: print-quality faults usually come down to the transfer belt or a toner cartridge on these models, and the guide above gets most people to the right part first time. Now and again a fault is down to the fuser or another part — if you are not certain, send us a test page and we will confirm it before you buy.
Common questions
My HP colour laser prints are faded, banded or patchy across the whole page — what causes it?
On the CP3525, M551, M570 and M575 the part that lays every colour onto the page is the image transfer belt (ITB). As it wears you get faded or uneven colour, horizontal bands, ghosting or faint repeated images, and colours that no longer line up. Fitting a fresh transfer belt clears it. If only one colour looks wrong, that points to a toner cartridge instead.
How do I tell a worn transfer belt from a worn toner cartridge?
A rough rule: if the problem shows across all colours or the whole page — banding, ghosting, faded or uneven density, poor colour registration — it is usually the transfer belt. If it is one colour only — a single colour missing, streaky or faint, or spots repeating at a set interval — it is that colour's toner cartridge. Still unsure? Send us a photo of a test page and we will tell you which part before you buy.
Toner smears or rubs off the page — is that the belt too?
No. If print smudges or rubs off when you touch it, or looks unfused, that is the fuser, not the transfer belt. There is no quick DIY swap we recommend on this family for that fault, so the safe route is a service or fault diagnosis — we will confirm the cause and quote the repair.
Does the transfer belt fit my exact model?
The transfer belt covers the HP Color LaserJet CP3525 and CM3530, and the Enterprise 500 colour M551 and M575 and Pro 500 colour MFP M570. The belt and roller kit covers the M551, M570 and M575. If your model is not listed, contact us with the number and we will confirm the right part.
Can you fit it, or is it a DIY job?
The transfer belt is a customer-fit part on these machines and comes with GenieCare help if you get stuck. If you would rather not do it yourself, book a service and we will fit and test it for you.
Not sure which part you need?
Send us a photo of a test page and your model number, and we will tell you exactly which part will fix it before you spend anything.
Email Printer Genie