WHILE DRIVING, I TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER TO POSITION 5, WITHIN 1 MINUTE, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, SMOKE WAS RISING FROM MY SEAT, I FELT A HOT BURNING SENSATION UNDER MY LEFT UPPER THIGH AND REALIZED THE SEAT WARMER WAS ON FIRE. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. THE SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH MY LEATHER SEAT AND LEFT DAMAGE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. CONTACTED LOCAL VW DEALER (MARTENS VOLKSWAGEN, BETHESDA, MD) WAS ASKED TO BRING CAR IN IMMEDIATELY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED, SEAT WARMER DISCONNECTED, DRIVER'S SEAT WILL BE REPLACED. *JB