A dot impact printer including a printhead unit having a wire dot head that strikes an ink ribbon against a recording medium to print, and a head support frame that supports the wire dot head; a path forming member that forms the recording medium conveyance path at the printing position of the wire dot head; and a first contact group having at least three contact points disposed to the head support frame that contact the path forming member proximally to the wire dot head for positioning to the path forming member in the head pin projection direction.