Segment reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012 segments		Jul. 31, 2011		Jul. 31, 2012 segments		Jul. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Segments	4				4
External sales and revenues, net	$ 3,319		$ 3,537		$ 9,669		$ 9,635
Intersegment sales and revenues	0		0		0		0
Sales and revenues, net	3,319		3,537		9,669		9,635
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	84		1,400		(241)		1,468
Income tax benefit (expense)	196		1,463		410		1,458
Segment profit (loss)	(112)		(63)		(651)		10
Depreciation and amortization	86		84		246		245
Interest expense	59		62		182		187
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(10)		(22)		(21)		(55)
Capital expenditures	74	[1]	106	[1]	250	[1]	291	[1]
Segment assets	11,143				11,143				12,291
Truck [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	2,323	[2]	2,457	[2]	6,830	[2]	6,510	[2]
Intersegment sales and revenues	13	[2]	0	[2]	26	[2]	18	[2]
Sales and revenues, net	2,336	[2]	2,457	[2]	6,856	[2]	6,528	[2]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(30)	[2]	(75)	[2]	(160)	[2]	49	[2]
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Segment profit (loss)	(30)	[2]	(75)	[2]	(160)	[2]	49	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	41	[2]	37	[2]	111	[2]	112	[2]
Interest expense	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(12)	[2]	(22)	[2]	(27)	[2]	(57)	[2]
Capital expenditures	21	[1],[2]	15	[1],[2]	53	[1],[2]	53	[1],[2]
Segment assets	2,509	[2]			2,509	[2]			2,771	[2]
Engine [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	441		546		1,301		1,526
Intersegment sales and revenues	399		422		1,292		1,180
Sales and revenues, net	840		968		2,593		2,706
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(47)		32		(275)		26
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Segment profit (loss)	(47)		32		(275)		26
Depreciation and amortization	28		32		87		91
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	1		(1)		2		(3)
Capital expenditures	39	[1]	47	[1]	116	[1]	131	[1]
Segment assets	1,715				1,715				1,849
Parts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Regional Parts Distribution Centers	11				11
External sales and revenues, net	513		487		1,409		1,445
Intersegment sales and revenues	29		29		98		128
Sales and revenues, net	542		516		1,507		1,573
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	73		70		164		200
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Segment profit (loss)	73		70		164		200
Depreciation and amortization	2		2		8		7
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	1		1		4		5
Capital expenditures	6	[1]	7	[1]	18	[1]	11	[1]
Segment assets	708				708				700
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	42	[3]	47	[3]	129	[3]	154	[3]
Intersegment sales and revenues	22	[3]	26	[3]	70	[3]	75	[3]
Sales and revenues, net	64	[3]	73	[3]	199	[3]	229	[3]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	22	[3]	30	[3]	75	[3]	102	[3]
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Segment profit (loss)	22	[3]	30	[3]	75	[3]	102	[3]
Depreciation and amortization	9	[3]	8	[3]	25	[3]	21	[3]
Interest expense	20	[3]	28	[3]	67	[3]	84	[3]
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Capital expenditures	1	[1],[3]	1	[1],[3]	2	[1],[3]	1	[1],[3]
Segment assets	2,898	[3]			2,898	[3]			3,580	[3]
Interest revenues	63		72		195		225
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net	0		0		0		0
Intersegment sales and revenues	(463)		(477)		(1,486)		(1,401)
Sales and revenues, net	(463)		(477)		(1,486)		(1,401)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	66		1,343		(45)		1,091
Income tax benefit (expense)	196		1,463		410		1,458
Segment profit (loss)	(130)		(120)		(455)		(367)
Depreciation and amortization	6		5		15		14
Interest expense	39		34		115		103
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	0		0		0		0
Capital expenditures	7	[1]	36	[1]	61	[1]	95	[1]
Segment assets	$ 3,313				$ 3,313				$ 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 $63 million and $195 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2012, respectively, and $72 million and $225 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2011, respectively