Segment Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 518	$ 1,381	$ 3,065	$ 4,143
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,152	1,976	4,867	5,940
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	196	228	638	686
Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	58	31	139	105
Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(376)	(408)	(1,307)	(1,201)
Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	38	(125)	15	(205)
Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(101)	(81)	(226)	(344)
Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(22)	6	(30)	29
Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(78)	(84)	(301)	(304)
Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(128)	(136)	(394)	(373)
Equity in Profit/Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	4	(4)	0	(6)
Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(157)	39	(257)	16
Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(51)	(55)	(48)	(186)
Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(17)	(6)	(31)	(14)
Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,348	2,204	5,505	6,626
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	945	1,756	4,249	5,236
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	312	1,158	2,445	3,440
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	945	1,756	4,249	5,236
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	196	228	638	686
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	58	31	139	105
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(376)	(408)	(1,307)	(1,201)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	38	(125)	15	(205)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(101)	(81)	(226)	(344)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(22)	6	(30)	29
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(78)	(84)	(301)	(304)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(128)	(136)	(394)	(373)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Equity in Profit/Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	4	(4)	0	(6)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(157)	39	(257)	16
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(51)	(55)	(48)	(186)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(16)	(9)	(33)	(13)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	206	223	620	703
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	207	220	618	704
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Equity in Profit/Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliated Companies
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ (1)	$ 3	$ 2	$ (1)