Doesn't make it any less frustrating, at least Brother could say something in the manual, but this may be the proximate cause.
https://www.howtogeek.com/how-your-printer-leaves-invisible-...
https://www.howtogeek.com/how-your-printer-leaves-invisible-...
I also have a color Brother printer. I switched the cartridge to monochrome years ago. Now I know whose to blame for using up all the yellow.