Debt - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended									1 Months Ended						1 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended												11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended								1 Months Ended										1 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] 4.50% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Promissory Note With Lessor In Cherokee, Alabama [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] 4.50% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] 4.50% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] Eight Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] Eight Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Debt Of Majority Owned Dealerships [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Debt Of Majority Owned Dealerships [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] Illinois Finance Authority Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] County of Cook Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Promissory Note [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Promissory Note [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Promissory Note With Lessor In Cherokee, Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Promissory Note [Member] USD ($) Installments	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] VFN Facility [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Financial Services Operations [Member] VFN Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Financial Services Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	May 31, 2012 Financial Services Operations [Member] Asset Backed Securities USD ($)	May 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Investor Notes Maturing 2018 [Member] USD ($)	May 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Investor Notes Maturing 2018 [Member] MXN	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Two-year Investor Notes Maturing 2015 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Investor Notes Maturing October 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Days	Oct. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] Days	Oct. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]	Nov. 02, 2011 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Two [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 03, 2011 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Two [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Two [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Two [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Two [Member] Maximum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Three [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Five [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Six [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Treasury Rate [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Three [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Base Rate [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Base Rate [Member] Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Base Rate [Member] Maximum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Eurodollar [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Sep. 29, 2011 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Promissory Note [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] Maximum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Interest Rate Cap [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 G E Operating Agreement [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 G E Operating Agreement [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 Call Option [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Call Option [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Call Option [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 Call Option [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Navistar Financial Retail Receivables Corporation [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Asset Backed Securities USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Navistar Financial Corporation [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Navistar Financial, S.A. de C.V., SOFOM, E.N.R [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Funding Facility to Support Trade Receivables [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Navistar Leasing Company [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 International Truck Leasing Corporation [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 International Truck Leasing Corporation [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 2014 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Term Loan [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Mexican Finance Subsidiary [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Installment Payments Set One [Member] Term Loan [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Installment Payments Set Two [Member] Term Loan [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($) Installments	Oct. 31, 2013 United States Dollars and Mexican Pesos [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 United States Dollars and Mexican Pesos [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 United States of America, Dollars USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 United States of America, Dollars Financial Services Operations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 United States of America, Dollars Financial Services Operations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Mexico, Pesos USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Mexico, Pesos Financial Services Operations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Mexico, Pesos Financial Services Operations [Member]	Nov. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Investor Notes Maturing 2018 [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable [Member] Investor Notes Maturing 2018 [Member] MXN
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Maximum																																																																																									125.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																			$ 1,000,000,000							$ 175,000,000																				$ 840,000,000																																												$ 95,000,000					$ 340,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding								0										1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal, Percentage																			0.25%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate																																																																					0.50%	3.50%	1.75%	2.25%	4.50%		2.75%	2.75%	3.25%
Variable rate, floor																																																																										1.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage														3.00%	4.50%	4.50%					8.25%			8.25%							6.50%	6.50%																																														7.60%	2.80%
Long-term Debt	5,085,000,000				2,905,000,000	3,219,000,000	40,000,000		177,000,000	177,000,000	0						693,000,000	991,000,000			1,178,000,000	872,000,000					218,000,000	0	60,000,000	48,000,000	225,000,000	225,000,000				20,000,000	30,000,000	39,000,000	67,000,000			1,866,000,000	1,866,000,000				1,018,000,000	763,000,000																																219,000,000	167,000,000																			489,000,000	414,000,000
Debt instrument, percentage of borrowings denominated in countries currency																																																																																																							36.00%	20.00%		64.00%	80.00%
Line Of Credit Facility Term																																																																																										5
Long-term Debt, Fair Value							58,000,000								177,000,000	177,000,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component															22,000,000	22,000,000
Debt Issuance Cost															3,000,000
Repayments of Long-term Debt	125,000,000																																																																																	300,000,000
Payments of Debt Extinguishment Costs																																																																																			13,000,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount												570,000,000			200,000,000	200,000,000				0			1,000,000,000										225,000,000	135,000,000	90,000,000						40,000,000	200,000,000		500,000,000	750,000,000					78,000,000	1,000,000,000	250,000,000	224,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt																																																																																																												62,000,000	800,000,000
Debt Instrument, Term																																								10 years	4 years
Loans Payable to Bank																																																	372,000,000																																							502,000,000									200,000,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal																																																																																																		4,000,000	9,000,000
Debt Instrument, Number Of Installment Payments																																									16																																																										11
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt																				310,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium																				4,000,000
Proceeds from Interest Received																				10,000,000
Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs																				(4,000,000)
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage																				8.50%
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage																																																													103.00%		100.00%	104.125%	102.75%	101.375%	100.00%	100.00%
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt																															221,000,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Principal Amount Redeemed																																																														50,000,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Period																																																													12 months
Early Repayment of Senior Debt																																																										50,000,000	50,000,000		100,000,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt																																																												(8,000,000)
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Premium, Percentage of Principal Amount Redeemed																																																															1.00%
Unamortized discount	75,000,000			23,000,000		75,000,000							50,000,000	26,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	4,000,000	9,000,000						22,000,000	28,000,000																	0
Proceeds from Convertible Debt												553,000,000				196,000,000
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	20,000,000	57,000,000	11,000,000									17,000,000				3,000,000
Issuance Costs																1,000,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Trading Days																																																						20	20
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days										30 days			30 days
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Percentage of Stock Price Trigger										130.00%			130.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Measurement Period, Business Days									10	5			5
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Measurement Period										5			5
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Ratio Basis										1,000			1,000
Threshold percentage of last reported sale price of common stock																																																								98.00%	98.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio										17.1233			19.891
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price																																																																																					58.40		50.27
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants					87,000,000							87,000,000
Debt Instrument Convertible Trading Day Observation Period Length													40
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Price Percent										100.00%			100.00%
Payments for Derivative Instrument, Investing Activities																																																																																				125,000,000		125,000,000	125,000,000
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Indexed Shares																																																																																							11,337,870
Exercise Price of Stockholder Rights Plan												60.14
Payments to subsidiary to meet convenant requirement	0	0	0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum																													4.90%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum																													6.80%
Present Value of Future Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions					79,000,000	24,000,000
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Amount Due under Financing Arrangement																																																																																														24,000,000
Capital Lease Obligations					4,000,000	2,000,000
Pledged Assets, Other, Not Separately Reported on Statement of Financial Position																																										989,000,000	1,300,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Term Length																																														5
Commercial Paper																																																																																																						78,000,000			1,000,000,000
Secured Debt																																																																																											4,000,000	49,000,000	74,000,000
Loans Pledged as Collateral																																																																																												$ 61,000,000	$ 86,000,000