Condensed Consolidating Guarantor and Non-Guarantor - Statement of Operations (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	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
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
Costs of products sold									11,670	11,262	9,741
Restructuring charges									108	92	(15)
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets									44	64
All other operating expenses									2,279	2,149	2,079
Total Costs and Expenses									14,101	13,567	11,805
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									(29)	(71)	(50)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(1,182)	320	290
Income tax benefit (expense)									(1,780)	1,458	(23)
Net income (loss)	(2,756)	96	(162)	(140)	275	1,409	88	6	(2,962)	1,778	267
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	13	12	10	13	20	9	14	12	48	55	44
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(2,769)	84	(172)	(153)	255	1,400	74	(6)	(3,010)	1,723	223
Parent Company [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net									0	0	0
Costs of products sold									0	0	(1)
Restructuring charges									0	0	0
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets									0	0
All other operating expenses									(249)	79	61
Total Costs and Expenses									(249)	79	60
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									(3,258)	1,759	283
Income (loss) before income taxes									(3,009)	1,680	223
Income tax benefit (expense)									(1)	43	0
Net income (loss)									(3,010)	1,723	223
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									(3,010)	1,723	223
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net									7,924	8,319	6,751
Costs of products sold									8,188	7,775	6,303
Restructuring charges									86	33	(13)
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets									2	0
All other operating expenses									1,297	1,263	1,349
Total Costs and Expenses									9,573	9,071	7,639
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									536	462	895
Income (loss) before income taxes									(1,113)	(290)	7
Income tax benefit (expense)									(1,987)	1,937	55
Net income (loss)									(3,100)	1,647	62
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									(3,100)	1,647	62
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net									11,666	13,202	11,278
Costs of products sold									10,067	10,974	9,245
Restructuring charges									22	59	(2)
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets									42	64
All other operating expenses									994	902	763
Total Costs and Expenses									11,125	11,999	10,006
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									(34)	(37)	(17)
Income (loss) before income taxes									507	1,166	1,255
Income tax benefit (expense)									209	(511)	(78)
Net income (loss)									716	655	1,177
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									48	55	44
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									668	600	1,133
Consolidation, Eliminations [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net									(6,642)	(7,563)	(5,884)
Costs of products sold									(6,585)	(7,487)	(5,806)
Restructuring charges									0	0	0
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets									0	0
All other operating expenses									237	(95)	(94)
Total Costs and Expenses									(6,348)	(7,582)	(5,900)
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates									2,727	(2,255)	(1,211)
Income (loss) before income taxes									2,433	(2,236)	(1,195)
Income tax benefit (expense)									(1)	(11)	0
Net income (loss)									2,432	(2,247)	(1,195)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									$ 2,432	$ (2,247)	$ (1,195)