<?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>0001373781</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Reinhardt Carsten J</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP and Chief Operating Office</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>16697</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.4665</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>288457</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 a Rule 10b5-1 plan and the restricted stock agreement, shares were sold and the net proceeds were 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 $21.43 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 54,366 shares of restricted stock on January 2, 2011 with 16,697 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 8,087 shares  of restricted stock that are held by the issuer to implement restrictions on transfer unless and until certain conditions are met and 225,880 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>Carsten J. Reinhardt, by Barbara Novak, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
