<?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>0001506074</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nowlan Kevin</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2135 WEST MAPLE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48084-7186</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller</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>2278</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.5323</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44012</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </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 $21.45 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 6,796 shares of restricted stock on January 2, 2011, with 2,278  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 15,994 shares of restricted stock held by the issuer to implement restrictions on transfer until and if conditions are met and  23,500 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>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kevin Nowlan,  By: Barbara Novak, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
