Automatic Transmission Column Shift problems of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer

I bought this Mercury in oct 98 . It is now Jan of 99 and I have had quite a few problems . A warrenty came with this car, and we have been there twice ;one for the transfer case, and switch for the power seat , leak on rear hatch window. Now im returning it for throttle malfunction. I almost killed my children and myself . I made my children jump out of the car while doing aprox . 5 miles an hour. The more I stepped on the brakes the more the engine idled faster . I dont know anything about cars I am a housewife. I just wish I knew about this defect in the car so it could been corrected before I went on vacation . It is a nice car. I wish Mercury would notify theire customers of any defects. Thank you very much for this questionair, it helped my family alot . Thank you. Dawn gag liano.