I suspect this has something to do with the data JIRA is trying to display from the description of JRA-4134 - perhaps the need is to "escape" text description for Excel, in a similar way you had to for XML. If you perform a search that includes this issue (e.g. Text: "export excel original active" Component: "Import/Export") and create an Excel list, you'll see the top of the spreadsheet has bits from the above mentioned issue's description. If you remove description from your view, the Current fields export no longer has the problem. Of course, the All fields export will always have the problem.