Segment reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012 segments		Apr. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2012 segments		Apr. 30, 2011		Oct. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Segments	4				4
External sales and revenues, net	$ 3,298		$ 3,355		$ 6,350		$ 6,098
Intersegment sales and revenues	0		0		0		0
Sales and revenues, net	3,298		3,355		6,350		6,098
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(172)		74		(325)		68
Income tax benefit (expense)	133		(5)		214		(5)
Segment profit (loss)	(305)		79		(539)		73
Depreciation and amortization	82		81		160		161
Interest expense	62		62		123		125
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(4)		(16)		(11)		(33)
Capital expenditures	73	[1]	90	[1]	176	[1]	185	[1]
Segment assets	11,384				11,384				12,291
Truck [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	2,353	[2]	2,262	[2]	4,507	[2]	4,053	[2]
Intersegment sales and revenues	2	[2]	9	[2]	13	[2]	18	[2]
Sales and revenues, net	2,355	[2]	2,271	[2]	4,520	[2]	4,071	[2]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(89)	[2]	92	[2]	(130)	[2]	124	[2]
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Segment profit (loss)	(89)	[2]	92	[2]	(130)	[2]	124	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	35	[2]	38	[2]	69	[2]	75	[2]
Interest expense	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(6)	[2]	(17)	[2]	(15)	[2]	(35)	[2]
Capital expenditures	16	[1],[2]	22	[1],[2]	32	[1],[2]	38	[1],[2]
Segment assets	2,685	[2]			2,685	[2]			2,771	[2]
Engine [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	440		524		860		980
Intersegment sales and revenues	454		431		893		758
Sales and revenues, net	894		955		1,753		1,738
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(108)		2		(228)		(6)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Segment profit (loss)	(108)		2		(228)		(6)
Depreciation and amortization	30		30		59		59
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	0		(2)		1		(2)
Capital expenditures	36	[1]	52	[1]	76	[1]	84	[1]
Segment assets	1,823				1,823				1,849
Parts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Regional Parts Distribution Centers	11				11
External sales and revenues, net	462		512		896		958
Intersegment sales and revenues	34		50		69		99
Sales and revenues, net	496		562		965		1,057
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	41		74		91		130
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Segment profit (loss)	41		74		91		130
Depreciation and amortization	4		3		6		5
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	2		3		3		4
Capital expenditures	5	[1]	3	[1]	12	[1]	4	[1]
Segment assets	698				698				700
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	43	[3]	57	[3]	87	[3]	107	[3]
Intersegment sales and revenues	24	[3]	26	[3]	48	[3]	49	[3]
Sales and revenues, net	67	[3]	83	[3]	135	[3]	156	[3]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	26	[3]	40	[3]	53	[3]	72	[3]
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Segment profit (loss)	26	[3]	40	[3]	53	[3]	72	[3]
Depreciation and amortization	8	[3]	6	[3]	16	[3]	13	[3]
Interest expense	22	[3]	26	[3]	47	[3]	56	[3]
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Capital expenditures	1	[1],[3]	0	[1],[3]	2	[1],[3]	0	[1],[3]
Segment assets	3,043	[3]			3,043	[3]			3,580	[3]
Interest revenues	66		82		133		153
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	0		0		0		0
Intersegment sales and revenues	(514)		(516)		(1,023)		(924)
Sales and revenues, net	(514)		(516)		(1,023)		(924)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(42)		(134)		(111)		(252)
Income tax benefit (expense)	133		(5)		214		(5)
Segment profit (loss)	(175)		(129)		(325)		(247)
Depreciation and amortization	5		4		10		9
Interest expense	40		36		76		69
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	0		0		0		0
Capital expenditures	15	[1]	13	[1]	54	[1]	59	[1]
Segment assets	$ 3,135				$ 3,135				$ 3,391

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

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

[3] )Total sales and revenues in the Financial Services segment include interest revenues of $66 million and $133 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, respectively, and $82 million and $153 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2011, respectively