Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 689	$ 579
Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	48	66
Customer | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	56	35
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	11	12
Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	55	69
Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	242	307
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	277	90
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status		0
Dealer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	3
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 0	$ 1