Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details) - Finance Receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	$ 336	$ 398
Receivables written off	(118)	(196)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	25	41
Provision for credit losses	95	118
Other	6	(25)
Balance at end of period	344	336
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 85	$ 65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			259	271
Ending Balance	336	398	344	336
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			819	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			22,056	22,358
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			22,875	22,959
Customer
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	327	388
Receivables written off	(118)	(196)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	25	41
Provision for credit losses	93	119
Other	6	(25)
Balance at end of period	333	327
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			85	65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			248	262
Ending Balance	327	388	333	327
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			819	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			18,522	18,788
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			19,341	19,389
Dealer
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	9	10
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	2	(1)
Other	0	0
Balance at end of period	11	9
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			11	9
Ending Balance	$ 9	$ 10	11	9
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			3,534	3,570
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			$ 3,534	$ 3,570