Chevrolet Bolt EV VS Ford F-150 Lightning
Verdict BUY IT DROP IT
The Reality NHTSA's own recall database backs up the core claim: the 2023 Bolt EV has zero battery-fire recalls, unlike the 2017-2022 models that were recalled twice for exactly that. But the 2023 model year isn't recall-free -- it has 3 recalls, two of them for a *different* fire-adjacent defect: after a crash, the seat belt pretensioner's exhaust gas can ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar (one of these recalls exists because an earlier repair under a prior recall number was done incorrectly). A third recall covers a missing perforation that can block the passenger air bag from deploying properly. NHTSA's complaint database shows 59 complaints filed against the 2023 Bolt EV -- a moderate number for a mass-market EV, not an outlier in either direction. The backup-power feature itself is real and independently confirmed by Ford's own support documentation and multiple outlets. But NHTSA's recall database shows the exact battery pack that feature depends on was the subject of a real fire-risk recall for the 2023 model year: the high-voltage battery pack may short-circuit when fully charged or nearly fully charged -- which is precisely the state a homeowner would keep it in to be ready for an outage. A second, unrelated recall covers a missing solder joint that can disable the windshield defroster. NHTSA lists 0 complaints for the 2023 F-150 Lightning specifically, consistent with these being proactive manufacturer recalls rather than owner-reported failures.
SHORT ANSWER
Chevrolet Bolt EV: GM's claim that the 2023 Bolt EV's battery-fire problem is fixed holds up -- NHTSA shows zero battery-fire recalls for this model year, though the car did get recalled for a separate, unrelated seat-belt-pretensioner fire risk and an air bag defect.
Ford F-150 Lightning: Ford's home-backup-power feature genuinely works, but the 2023 F-150 Lightning's high-voltage battery pack was recalled by NHTSA for a real fire risk specifically when fully or nearly fully charged -- the exact charge state the backup feature depends on.