While driving, vehicle lost acceleration and engine started smoking. Pulled over and transmission fluid was significantly leaking. Towed it to dealer repair shop. Service mgr. communicates transmission fluid leaked into the coolant. Suggests a transmission and radiator flush and misc. fixes (around $1200) but some metal shavings were in pan so 50/50 whether transmission would be ok. Other alternative was a transmission overhaul along radiator flush ($2450). Difficult decision but decided to do the overhaul since the vehicle has been fine up to then (except for a couple of minor things and low miles) but painful none the less.

A few months after the radiator cracked and leaked fluid into the trans, my car started acting the same way shifting between 2 and 3 on its own. We parked the car for a couple of days and UNLIKE last time, the car would not go this time and their was no trans fluid left. Took it to the same mechanic that repaired the radiator crack and had him look at it. Turns out this time the lower liquid line to the transmission cracked and leaked out all the fluid. Thankfully not a new transmission and not $700 like last time... but still added stress and pain.

I am really starting to dislike my neon. Whatever you do... don't buy one.