An issue or difficulty (7)
I believe the answer is:
problem
This clue is a double definition.
'an issue' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'difficulty' is the second definition.
(I know that problem is a type of difficulty)
(Other definitions for problem that I've seen before include "Quandary or dilemma" , "Hitch" , "Question or source of perplexity" , "Difficulty to be solved" , "One hard to understand, solve" .)