Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	$ 24,263		$ 17,504
Restricted cash	209		175
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	24,472	$ 20,681	17,741	$ 16,907
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in held-for-sale assets	0		62
Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	13,123		8,320
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	13,717		13,552
Restricted cash	30		15
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in held-for-sale assets	0		0
Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	62		117
Restricted cash	5		21
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in held-for-sale assets	0		0
Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	11,078		9,067
Restricted cash	174		139
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in held-for-sale assets	0		62
U.S. government | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,712		2,849
U.S. government agencies | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,201		1,446
Non-U.S. government and agencies | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,946		3,944
Corporate debt | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	5,649		5,082
Equities (a)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Unrealized Gain (Loss)	111	$ (44)
Other marketable securities | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	209		231
Fair Value, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	9,516		2,842
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	14,747		14,662
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	20,568		17,147
Fair Value, Recurring | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	5,444		1,888
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	7,679		6,432
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	16,320		13,851
Fair Value, Recurring | Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	62		117
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	4,072		954
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	7,006		8,113
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	4,248		3,296
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | U.S. government
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	4,494		520
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	4,999		3,125
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | U.S. government | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	3,277		520
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	3,724		2,930
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | U.S. government | Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | U.S. government | Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	1,217		0
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	1,275		195
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | Equities (a)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	299		81
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | Equities (a) | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	299		81
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | Equities (a) | Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 1 [Member] | Equities (a) | Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | U.S. government agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	1,556		125
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	3,359		1,758
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | U.S. government agencies | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	706		125
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	3,124		1,548
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | U.S. government agencies | Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | U.S. government agencies | Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	850		0
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	235		210
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. government and agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	2,021		951
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	5,756		6,625
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. government and agencies | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	916		601
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	3,645		4,217
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. government and agencies | Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. government and agencies | Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	1,105		350
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	2,111		2,408
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	1,445		1,246
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	5,605		4,995
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	545		642
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	5,292		4,802
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt | Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt | Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	900		604
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	313		193
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Other marketable securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	550		563
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Other marketable securities | Operating Segments | Automotive
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	236		273
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Other marketable securities | Operating Segments | Mobility
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	0		0
Fair Value, Recurring | Level 2 [Member] | Other marketable securities | Operating Segments | Ford Credit
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale	$ 314		$ 290