SOON AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE PASSENGER POWER SEAT MOTOR BEGAN TO SPONTANEOUSLY SMOKE, EMITTING A PUTRID ODOR. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES (10 MIN IN TRAFFIC) THE SMOKE INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT THE WHOLE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. ALL PASSENGERS (TWO MOTHERS AND FOUR CHILDREN 3 OR YOUNGER) EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO WORSEN AND ULTIMATELY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED AND AFTER ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES ALL SMOKE STOPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECENTLY CLAIMED THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IN THE MATTER. *JB