No, the crew of Apollo 13 didn’t say that back in 1970. They actually said “We’ve had a problem.” This was changed to the present tense for Tom Hanks in the subsequent film. Forty seven years ago people did not think it sounded more impressive to misuse the word ‘Issue’ when they actually mean problem.
The word ‘Issue’ has several meanings and in some circumstances the use of the word can be an alternative to ‘problem.’ People, particularly noticeable on television use ‘Issue’ instead of ‘Problem’ because they think it sounds more impressive.
An ‘Issue’ is a talking point or a subject for discussion. Modern dictionaries have changed their definition in order to make it synonymous with ‘Problem.’ The constant misuse of ‘Issue’ has now led to it unnecessarily increasing the number of meanings to include those which were perfectly well served by the word ‘Problem.’
‘Issue’ can also mean children, especially in legal documents. When at a dinner party someone said, “I’ve got issues with my children,” I was able to respond, “Mary, do you mean ‘You’ve got problems with your issue’?’
Needless to say, whenever I hear a Television commentator say during a motor race “They are repairing the issue with their gearbox,” I shudder. It may or may not be a talking point, but it certainly is a problem.
The Surrey Eunuch 