Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013		Apr. 30, 2012		Apr. 30, 2013 segments		Apr. 30, 2012		Apr. 30, 2013 Number Of Employees Hourly Workers [Member] Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] employees	Apr. 30, 2013 Number of Employees Salaried Workers [Member] Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] employees	Apr. 30, 2013 G E Operating Agreement [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 G E Operating Agreement [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Financed lease obligations [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Financed lease obligations [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Financed lease obligations [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] G E Operating Agreement [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Financed lease obligations [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] G E Operating Agreement [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net income (loss) Attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ (374)		$ (172)		$ (497)		$ (325)				$ (9)	$ (8)
Number Of Segments					4
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees									4,600	400
concentration risk number of employees percentage									51.00%	5.00%
Sales of manufactured products, net	2,487		3,218		5,085		6,183				124	113
Cost of Goods Sold	2,363		2,900		4,649		5,550				126	113
Depreciation and amortization	142	[1]	82	[1]	242	[1]	160	[1]			46	37
Interest expense	90		62		164		123				11	8
Payments to Acquire Equipment on Lease					295		28					(185)
Long-term Debt													209	0	209	167
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	35	[1],[2]	73	[1],[2]	107	[1],[2]	176	[1],[2]				(184)
Proceeds from finance lease obligations					$ 263		$ 0					$ 201

[1] Includes amounts related to discontinued operations. For more information, see Note 2, Discontinued Operations and Other Divestitures.

[2] Exclusive of purchases of equipment leased to others.