Influencers damage Jeep Recon interior at auto show
Stellantis has publicly condemned two influencers after a viral video showed them disassembling parts of the new all-electric Jeep Recon at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show. The clip, which spread rapidly on social media, has reopened the debate about how pre-production car prototypes should be treated at exhibitions.
The manufacturer explained that the car, criticized for its poor assembly quality, was a hand-built prototype, not a finished production model, calling the bloggers’ actions “destructive.”
Honest criticism or unwarranted outrage?
The viral video, published by a Los Angeles-based channel called “The Middle Lane,” garnered over 1.1 million views and 2,300 comments on TikTok since November 22. It also appeared on YouTube and Instagram but was later removed from those platforms.
The creators of the clip sharply criticized the assembly quality of the new Jeep, stating they expected better fit and finish for a vehicle with a suggested price of $65,000. The video shows them removing and then reinstalling plastic interior parts in the Recon, including trim around the center console and above the digital instrument panel.
They also zoom in on uneven gaps between materials on the door panels and shake the infotainment screen and the passenger grab handle, claiming to simulate “off-road use.”
Jeep Recon Moab build quality… #laautoshow #tiktokcartalkcontest #electriccar #buildquality
The manufacturer’s position
In response, Stellantis issued a statement: “The vehicle in question is a pre-production show vehicle created solely for presentations and events to demonstrate design inspiration for the final product. These pre-production units are typically hand-assembled and are not intended to demonstrate final production durability, quality, or material integrity.”
Kaelin Connelly, Senior Vice President of Communications for North America at Stellantis, added in an email to the Detroit Free Press: “The actions taken to disassemble the new Jeep Recon on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show were both destructive and unprofessional.”
The video creators’ explanation
Detroit Free Press later spoke with Luke Miani, founder of “The Middle Lane,” who said they were surprised by the video’s reach and the conversation it sparked. According to Miani, their intent was simply to share “thoughts on many different cars.”
Regarding Stellantis’s statement, he explained: “I want to push back on claims of ‘destructive’ behavior, as the video clearly shows that the fasteners holding certain interior pieces were loose, and the pieces come out easily by hand without damage.”
He added that he looks forward to seeing the production version of the Recon, hoping that “the build quality truly improves.”
Public reaction
Online reaction was mixed. Some commenters expressed disappointment at what they perceived as poor craftsmanship, placing the blame on Stellantis. Others defended the manufacturer, noting that the car was a pre-production show vehicle brought to Los Angeles for display and was never intended for close physical inspection.
The story also gained traction on Reddit, where many users criticized the influencers for being “unprofessional,” while others argued that automakers should be more stringent about who gets access to show cars.
One user, who identified as an “interior trim engineer,” commented that prototype builds are “significantly different” from series production, describing a process where “employees work at a bench with a drill and a few screws” long before the assembly line is functional.
The 2026 model year electric Jeep Recon is scheduled to start production in early 2026 at the Stellantis plant in Toluca, Mexico. Initial deliveries in North America are expected soon after, with a global launch planned for the last quarter of the year. The first version, the Moab trim, exclusive to the U.S. and Canada, will start at $65,000, followed by more affordable variants.
This incident highlights the complex dynamics between automakers, media, and a new generation of reviewers in the digital age. While show vehicles have always had certain limitations, social media and the culture of instant content create new challenges for narrative control. It is becoming increasingly important for companies not only to create exciting prototypes but also to clearly communicate their status to avoid situations like this, which can impact brand perception even before sales begin.