Strange behavior when printing

Try reducing the job complexity, especially on base SKUs of these older HP printers, and see if you have the same issue. Some of these are beginning to struggle today with overly complex jobs, especially the models with 64-128MB formatters. The problem with this (and quite a few others) is that this isn't like the much nicer units where it can be upgraded via SODIMM memory to combat the problem, so you will need to account for job complexity with a 64MB formatter somewhat.

The fact it prints fine with single pages tells me it's potentially a memory limit issue that isn't reporting an error. My M401n did the same thing, where it would just take time to process the file and drop elements from the job silently. I have since put a used M401dne into service, and it has been fine, so it was the limited RAM on the M401n 128MB formatter board.

If you're in a Windows environment, try using the HP UPD (Setup guide here) and see if that also helps. I'm beginning to find the original HP drivers for the old models are aging in subtle ways like this, and in some cases (Win10/HP M426fdw), I have had to replace the print queue multiple times and redo the IP address multiple times WITHOUT THE UPD.

NOTE: You will need to add the printer manually and have the IP address to do this if it isn't done over USB, but if you setup the printer manually in control panel and select "Add a printer using an IP address or hostname". Make sure the option to select the driver automatically is unchecked, otherwise you may have issues overriding the model specific driver.

If you choose to buy something newer, AVOID NEW HP hardware. It's a DRM-ridden mess. Find a pre-2017 model like the CP2025 or the Pro 400 version (M451) for another HP. Anything newer has the HP DS firmware and is a nightmare. The "easy" go-to these days for me is Canon since Canon used to make the base engine for HP. The 2016+ models are basically what HP stopped making in favor of having as much toner DRM as you can get away with and being as reliable as the old HPs that are no longer produced. The main difference was that Canon primarily made "AIO" machines and HP let you choose; it was a Canon printer without the scanner and with machines like the M451.

As soon as HP blew what they had going for them with the 2017+ HP DS firmware, Canon re-released the machines we bought from HP prior without the BS toner DRM; same hardware, different chip IDs, and no BS toner DRM :-). Once HP bought Samsung (which has always been known more for cheaper upfront pricing at the expense of not being bulletproof like the HP printers with the Canon engine.

Here's how you can tell:

• It's more plastic than metal (this is a Samsung engine trait)
• Chip location: It's commonly on the front, and it's usually four round pins. Canon toners use a small 2-pin toner near the drum on the left or right. The drum is generally exposed on the back with monochrome units. The chip is the way to tell on the newer Samsung HP color lasers (HP didn't carry over the Samsung split drum they had in the earlier CLP engine and C series).
• It's A3 capable (11x17). The Samsung A3 engine is better than the A4 engine, but it's still Samsung. Lexmark and Xerox make better A3 engines. Canon isn't known for it like Lexmark and Xerox is, but they do make a few.

These new machines were ruined once the Samsung sale was final, and HP ditched the beloved Canon engines that made them so good :-(. Some still use Canon print engines, but you need to check the toner layout to know. The chip and toner layout is the telltale cue.

Canon's 2017+ single-function lineup took what HP used to sell, changed the chip ID lock, and released it without the garbage from 2017+, like the HP DS firmware. I've tried them, so when I can FINALLY take that dumb M426 out to be scrapped, I know they're as good as the old HPs like my M401dne (known to be bulletproof for reliability).
At this point, you either choose to deal with HP's crap (and in many cases now, a cheap print engine worth more dead), Canon, or a business class laser (See Lexmark and Xerox, even Ricoh). That said, most of the newer lower end desktop Xerox printers use Lexmark print engines. They may or may not be able to set such that you can ignore the chip % like Lexmark, nor is it worth chasing one down). The problem is that HP has lost its way. Let them burn in the fire they created by implementing HP DS toner DRM and cheap Samsung print engines.