Equity Affiliates - Principal Components of Investments in Equity Affiliates (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in affiliates carried at cost Description	Various
Investments in equity affiliates	$ 213
Investment in affiliates carried at cost	2
Investment in affiliates	215	202
Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. (DDAC)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Investments in equity affiliates	156
Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	20.00%
Investments in equity affiliates	39
Axles India Limited
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	48.00%
Investments in equity affiliates	6
All others as a group
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage Description	Various
Investments in equity affiliates	$ 12

Cost Method Investment, Ownership Percentage, Description

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- Definition

Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage, Description

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount, after adjustment, of cost-method investment. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, dividends received in excess of earnings after date of investment that are considered a return of investment and other than temporary impairments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 325

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872867&loc=d3e40691-111596

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 325

-SubTopic 20

-Section 35

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638308&loc=d3e40346-111594

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

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- Definition

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

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