Selected quarterly financial data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, 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	Jul. 31, 2010		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
Manufacturing gross margin	88		401	311		310		845	560		597		494
Net income (loss)	(2,756)		96	(162)		(140)		275	1,409		88		6			(2,962)		1,778		267
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	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
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (40.13)		$ 1.22	$ (2.50)		$ (2.19)		$ 3.52	$ 19.10		$ 1.01		$ (0.08)			$ (43.56)		$ 23.66		$ 3.11
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (40.13)		$ 1.22	$ (2.50)		$ (2.19)		$ 3.48	$ 18.24		$ 0.93		$ (0.08)			$ (43.56)		$ 22.64		$ 3.05
Market Price Common Stock High	$ 26.48		$ 35.25	$ 48.18		$ 45.44		$ 52.36	$ 70.40		$ 71.49		$ 66.39
Market Price Common Stock Low	$ 18.17		$ 20.21	$ 32.68		$ 33.74		$ 30.01	$ 50.05		$ 58.49		$ 48.32
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)	149	[1]		104	[1]	123	[1]		30	[1]	27	[1]		25	[1]	404	[2]	79	[2]	51	[2]
Product Warranty Accrual Adjustment related to costs incurred in prior periods	28	[1]
Income Tax Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance																2,232		(1,499)		(56)
Income tax expense related to reversal of previous quarter income tax benefits	233
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount																(2,300)
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Income Tax Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance																2,000
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount																(189)
Correction Of Errors And Effect Of New Accounting Guidance Adoption [Member]
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount								$ 61

[1] The warranty estimation for engines sold in 2012 includes a factor for improvements to the design and manufacturing process that was based on historical experience. In the fourth quarter of 2012 we identified a deviation from historic experience and we recorded an adjustment for a change in estimate to increase in the costs accrued for warranty of $28 million, or $0.41 per diluted share for products sold in the first three quarters of 2012.

[2] In the first quarter of 2012, we recorded significant adjustments for changes in estimates of $123 million, or $1.76 per diluted share. In the second quarter of 2012, we recorded significant adjustments for changes in estimates of $104 million, or $1.51 per diluted share. In the fourth quarter of 2012, we recorded significant adjustments for changes in estimates of $149 million, or $2.16 per diluted share. In the third quarter of 2011, we recorded significant adjustments for changes in estimates of $30 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. In the second quarter of 2011, we recorded significant adjustments for changes in estimates of $27 million, or $0.34 per diluted share. In the third quarter of 2010, we recorded significant adjustments for changes in estimates of $25 million, or $0.34 diluted share.