Finance Receivables (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	$ 338	$ 401	$ 346	$ 338
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of net finance receivables			1.28%	1.22%
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	338	401
Receivables written off	(118)	(196)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	25	41
Provision for credit losses	95	117
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(1)	(2)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7	(23)
Balance at end of period	346	338
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 85	$ 65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			261	273
Allowance, Ending Balance	338	401	346	338
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			819	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			26,183	27,125
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			27,002	27,726
Customer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	327	388	333	327
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
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
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(1)	(2)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	7	(23)
Balance at end of period	333	327
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			85	65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			248	262
Allowance, Ending Balance	327	388	333	327
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			819	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			19,155	19,431
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			19,974	20,032
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	9	10	11	9
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
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)
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	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
Allowance, Ending Balance	9	10	11	9
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			4,795	5,093
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			4,795	5,093
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	2	3	2	2
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	2	3
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	(1)
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of period	2	2
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			2	2
Allowance, Ending Balance	$ 2	$ 3	2	2
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			2,233	2,601
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			$ 2,233	$ 2,601