Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012 segments		Oct. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Segments									4
External sales and revenues, net									$ 12,948		$ 13,958		$ 12,145
Intersegment sales and revenues									0		0		0
Sales and revenues, net	3,279	3,319	3,298	3,052	4,323	3,537	3,355	2,743	12,948		13,958		12,145
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(2,769)	84	(172)	(153)	255	1,400	74	(6)	(3,010)		1,723		223
Income tax benefit (expense)									(1,780)		1,458		(23)
Segment profit (loss)									(1,230)		265		246
Depreciation and amortization									323		328		316
Interest expense									259		247		253
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									(29)		(71)		(50)
Capital expenditures									309	[1]	429	[1]	234	[1]
Segment assets	(9,102)				(12,291)				(9,102)		(12,291)		(9,730)
Customer Concentration Risk [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage									10.00%		13.00%		15.00%
Truck [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net									9,034	[2]	9,690	[2]	8,205	[2]
Intersegment sales and revenues									35	[2]	48	[2]	2	[2]
Sales and revenues, net									9,069	[2]	9,738	[2]	8,207	[2]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									(320)	[2]	336	[2]	424	[2]
Income tax benefit (expense)									0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Segment profit (loss)									(320)	[2]	336	[2]	424	[2]
Depreciation and amortization									140	[2]	151	[2]	160	[2]
Interest expense									0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									(28)	[2]	(73)	[2]	(51)	[2]
Capital expenditures									75	[1],[2]	83	[1],[2]	82	[1],[2]
Segment assets	(2,118)				(2,771)				(2,118)		(2,771)		(2,457)
Engine [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net									1,755		2,101		2,031
Intersegment sales and revenues									1,639		1,690		955
Sales and revenues, net									3,394		3,791		2,986
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									(562)		84		51
Income tax benefit (expense)									0		0		0
Segment profit (loss)									(562)		84		51
Depreciation and amortization									118		120		106
Interest expense									0		0		0
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									(7)		(4)		(2)
Capital expenditures									148	[1]	172	[1]	116	[1]
Segment assets	(1,777)				(1,849)				(1,777)		(1,849)		(1,715)
Parts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number Of Regional Parts Distribution Centers	11								11
External sales and revenues, net									1,991		1,967		1,690
Intersegment sales and revenues									128		188		195
Sales and revenues, net									2,119		2,155		1,885
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									240		287		266
Income tax benefit (expense)									0		0		0
Segment profit (loss)									240		287		266
Depreciation and amortization									10		9		7
Interest expense									0		0		0
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									6		6		3
Capital expenditures									21	[1]	19	[1]	8	[1]
Segment assets	(707)				(700)				(707)		(700)		(811)
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financing fees and revenues reimbursement					11
External sales and revenues, net									168	[3]	200	[3]	219	[3]
Intersegment sales and revenues									91	[3]	91	[3]	90	[3]
Sales and revenues, net									259	[3]	291	[3]	309	[3]
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									91	[3]	129	[3]	95	[3]
Income tax benefit (expense)									0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Segment profit (loss)									91	[3]	129	[3]	95	[3]
Depreciation and amortization									33	[3]	28	[3]	28	[3]
Interest expense									88	[3]	109	[3]	113	[3]
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Capital expenditures									3	[1],[3]	2	[1],[3]	2	[1],[3]
Segment assets	(2,563)				(3,580)				(2,563)		(3,580)		(3,497)
Interest revenues									254		285		270
Corporate And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales and revenues, net									0		0		0
Intersegment sales and revenues									(1,893)		(2,017)		(1,242)
Sales and revenues, net									(1,893)		(2,017)		(1,242)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									(2,459)		887		(613)
Income tax benefit (expense)									(1,780)		1,458		(23)
Segment profit (loss)									(679)		(571)		(590)
Depreciation and amortization									22		20		15
Interest expense									171		138		140
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									0		0		0
Capital expenditures									62	[1]	153	[1]	26	[1]
Segment assets	$ (1,937)				$ (3,391)				$ (1,937)		$ (3,391)		$ (1,250)

[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 $254 million, $285 million, and $270 million for