<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001113256</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARVINMERITOR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001084247</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCLURE CHARLES G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ARVINMERITOR, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2135 WEST MAPLE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48084-7186</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>49657</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.4625</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1034653</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>609</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>ArvinMeritor Savings Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In connection with the vesting and delivery of restricted stock, and pursuant to the terms of the restricted stock agreement and a Rule 10b5-1 plan, shares were sold and the net proceeds used to pay required withholding taxes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the weighted average sales price.  The actual range of prices for such transactions was $21.39 to $21.58.  The filer undertakes upon request to provide full information regarding the number of shares sold at each price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects the vesting of 163,098  shares of restricted stock on January 2, 2011, with 49,657 of such shares sold to pay required withholding taxes and the remaining shares held as freely transferable and not as restricted stock.  Total also includes 154,403 shares  of restricted stock that are held by the issuer to implement restrictions on transfer unless and until certain conditions are met and 564,100 restricted stock units, each of which represents the right to receive one share of common stock upon the vesting date, subject to terms and conditions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares purchased periodically and held in ArvinMeritor common stock funds in an employee benefit trust established under the ArvinMeritor Savings Plan, based on information furnished by the Plan Administrator as of November 30, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles G. McClure, Jr., by Barbara Novak, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
