Business Segment and Geographic Region Information - Identifiable Assets, Capital Expenditures for PPE, and Depreciation of PPE by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 30,419	$ 30,996	$ 33,487
Goodwill	13,201	13,479	13,893
Other intangible assets	5,514	6,014	6,556
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	497	506	632
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	486	479	514
Electrical Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,363	2,538	3,012
Goodwill	6,497	6,642	6,940
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	134	137	170
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	141	137	148
Electrical Systems and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,222	2,285	2,512
Goodwill	4,203	4,279	4,314
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	78	94	147
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	82	82	90
Hydraulics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	1,188	1,138	1,315
Goodwill	1,221	1,259	1,327
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	92	61	79
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	64	67	67
Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	830	841	832
Goodwill	938	956	962
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	28	33	28
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	27	28	28
Vehicle [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	1,549	1,579	1,668
Goodwill	342	343	350
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	142	119	160
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	109	113	130
All Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	8,152	8,381	9,339
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	474	444	584
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	423	427	463
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	3,552	3,122	3,699
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment	23	62	48
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	$ 63	$ 52	$ 51