I WAS DRIVING MY '05 NISSAN ARMADA (27,000 MILES) WITH MY 2 YR OLD SON AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR, THINKING IT WAS FROM A TRUCK DRIVING NEXT TO ME. I PICKED UP MY DAUGHTER, PUT BOTH CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR SEATS AND STARTED THE IGNITION. TWO PUFFS OF SMOKE CAME OUT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I QUICKLY UNBUCKLED MY CHILDREN, RAN THEM INTO THE SCHOOL AND SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED & SCHOOL WAS EVACUATED. WITHIN 15 MIN, THE ENGINE AREA WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY. *TR