Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Acquisition			$ 30,300,000	$ 217,800,000
Goodwill impairment charge			234,200,000	0	$ 0
Goodwill	$ 1,688,800,000		1,688,800,000	1,870,700,000	1,666,300,000
Impairments of intangible assets				0	0
Intangible assets, carrying amount	164,800,000		164,800,000	212,500,000
Amortization expense on intangible assets		$ 12,000,000	47,000,000	43,700,000	19,600,000
2018	31,300,000		31,300,000
2019	31,100,000		31,100,000
2020	30,100,000		30,100,000
2021	29,700,000		29,700,000
2022	29,500,000		29,500,000
Technology
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Intangible assets, carrying amount	111,000,000		111,000,000	126,000,000
Contractual Relationship
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Intangible assets, carrying amount	38,000,000		38,000,000	73,000,000
Electronics
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Acquisition			30,300,000	217,800,000
Goodwill impairment charge			234,200,000
Goodwill	291,700,000		291,700,000	490,100,000	278,000,000
Passive Safety
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,397,100,000		1,397,100,000	1,380,600,000	$ 1,388,300,000
Fotonic i Norden dp AB
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Acquisition	13,400,000
Goodwill						$ 13,400,000
Autoliv Nissin Brake Systems
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Acquisition		$ 16,900,000		217,800,000
Goodwill impairment charge	234,200,000
Goodwill	0		$ 0				$ 234,700,000
Autoliv Nissin Brake Systems | Electronics
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charge	$ 234,200,000
1997 Merger of Autoliv AB and Automotive Safety Products Division of Morton International, Inc. | Passive Safety
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill				$ 1,200,000,000