Segment reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012 segments		Jan. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Segments	4
External sales and revenues, net	$ 3,052		$ 2,743
Intersegment sales and revenues	0		0
Sales and revenues, net	3,052		2,743
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(153)		(6)
Income tax benefit (expense)	81		0
Segment profit (loss)	(234)		(6)
Depreciation and amortization	78		80
Interest expense	61		63
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(7)		(17)
Capital expenditures	103	[1]	95	[1]
Segment assets	11,503				12,291
Truck [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	2,154	[2]	1,800	[2]
Intersegment sales and revenues	11	[2]	0	[2]
Sales and revenues, net	2,165	[2]	1,800	[2]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(41)	[2]	32	[2]
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	[2]	0	[2]
Segment profit (loss)	(41)	[2]	32	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	34	[2]	37	[2]
Interest expense	0	[2]	0	[2]
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(9)	[2]	(18)	[2]
Capital expenditures	16	[1],[2]	16	[1],[2]
Segment assets	2,634	[2]			2,771	[2]
Engine [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	420		481
Intersegment sales and revenues	439		302
Sales and revenues, net	859		783
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(120)		(8)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0
Segment profit (loss)	(120)		(8)
Depreciation and amortization	29		29
Interest expense	0		0
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	1		0
Capital expenditures	40	[1]	32	[1]
Segment assets	1,893				1,849
Parts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Regional Parts Distribution Centers	11
External sales and revenues, net	434		412
Intersegment sales and revenues	35		83
Sales and revenues, net	469		495
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	50		56
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0
Segment profit (loss)	50		56
Depreciation and amortization	2		2
Interest expense	0		0
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	1		1
Capital expenditures	7	[1]	1	[1]
Segment assets	722				700
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	44	[3]	50	[3]
Intersegment sales and revenues	24	[3]	23	[3]
Sales and revenues, net	68	[3]	73	[3]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	27	[3]	32	[3]
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	[3]	0	[3]
Segment profit (loss)	27	[3]	32	[3]
Depreciation and amortization	8	[3]	7	[3]
Interest expense	25	[3]	30	[3]
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	0	[3]	0	[3]
Capital expenditures	1	[1],[3]	0	[1],[3]
Segment assets	3,067	[3]			3,580	[3]
Interest revenues	67		71
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	0		0
Intersegment sales and revenues	(509)		(408)
Sales and revenues, net	(509)		(408)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(69)		(118)
Income tax benefit (expense)	81		0
Segment profit (loss)	(150)		(118)
Depreciation and amortization	5		5
Interest expense	36		33
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	0		0
Capital expenditures	39	[1]	46	[1]
Segment assets	$ 3,187				$ 3,391

[1] Exclusive of purchases of equipment leased to others.

[2] See Note 2, Restructurings, for further discussion

[3] )Total sales and revenues in the Financial Services segment include interest revenues of $67 million and $71 million for three months ended January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively