Indesit D61D getting stuck

I have a Indesit D61D and when i put it on a wash it gets stuck, as if the controller is faulty, then i realised that it is not heating up either, could the element cause the controller to stick (say in a position where the machine is supposed to heat up and stay there as it isnt heating up), in other words if the element fails can this cause the controller to seem faulty i.e stick.