Condensed consolidating guarantor and non-guarantor financial information (Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012 NIC [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 NIC [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 NIC [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 NIC [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 NIC [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Navistar, Inc. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Navistar, Inc. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Navistar, Inc. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Navistar, Inc. [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Navistar, Inc. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Truck [Member]		Jul. 31, 2011 Truck [Member]		Jul. 31, 2012 Truck [Member]		Jul. 31, 2011 Truck [Member]		Jan. 31, 2011 Pension And Other Postretirement Contractual Termination Benefits [Member] Truck [Member] Location Fort Wayne [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Other Assets					$ 733					$ 168					$ 152					$ 416					$ (3)
Sales and revenues, net	3,319	3,537	9,669	9,635		0	0	0	0		2,007	2,072	6,141	5,903		2,941	3,260	8,776	9,079		(1,629)	(1,795)	(5,248)	(5,347)		2,336	[1]	2,457	[1]	6,856	[1]	6,528	[1]
Cost of products sold	2,876	2,930	8,518	7,830		0	0	0	0		1,951	1,940	6,151	5,493		2,554	2,774	7,577	7,620		(1,629)	(1,784)	(5,210)	(5,283)
Restructuring Charges	4	56	24	80		0	0	0	0		3	4	23	27		1	52	1	53		0	0	0	0										5
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	529	519	1,684	1,561		18	15	57	56		329	302	1,020	915		206	230	682	671		(24)	(28)	(75)	(81)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	0	64	38	64		0		0	0		0		0	0		0	64	38	64		0		0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	3,409	3,569	10,264	9,535		18	15	57	56		2,283	2,246	7,194	6,435		2,761	3,120	8,298	8,408		(1,653)	(1,812)	(5,285)	(5,364)
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(10)	(22)	(21)	(55)		(30)	1,863	(326)	1,983		16	(52)	384	292		(11)	(9)	(25)	(29)		15	(1,824)	(54)	(2,301)		(12)	[1]	(22)	[1]	(27)	[1]	(57)	[1]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(100)	(54)	(616)	45		(48)	1,848	(383)	1,927		(260)	(226)	(669)	(240)		169	131	453	642		39	(1,807)	(17)	(2,284)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	196	1,463	410	1,458		132	(448)	142	(459)		229	1,514	243	1,515		(187)	(162)	0	(214)		22	559	25	616		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	96	1,409	(206)	1,503		84	1,400	(241)	1,468		(31)	1,288	(426)	1,275		(18)	(31)	453	428		61	(1,248)	8	(1,668)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	12	9	35	35		0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0		12	9	35	35		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ 84	$ 1,400	$ (241)	$ 1,468		$ 84	$ 1,400	$ (241)	$ 1,468		$ (31)	$ 1,288	$ (426)	$ 1,275		$ (30)	$ (40)	$ 418	$ 393		$ 61	$ (1,248)	$ 8	$ (1,668)		$ (30)	[1]	$ (75)	[1]	$ (160)	[1]	$ 49	[1]

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