Debt - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								1 Months Ended							1 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended		11 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended														1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 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, 2014 Financial Services Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing Two Thousand and Fifteen [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing Two Thousand and Fifteen [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing October Two Thousand Thirteen [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing October Two Thousand Thirteen [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2014 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing Two Thousand and Eighteen [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing Two Thousand and Eighteen [Member] MXN	Oct. 31, 2014 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing Two Thousand and Eighteen [Member] USD ($)	May 31, 2013 Financial Services Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Investor Notes Maturing Two Thousand and Eighteen [Member] MXN	May 31, 2012 Financial Services Operations [Member] Asset-backed Securities [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Promissory Note With Lessor In Cherokee, Alabama [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Eurodollar [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Line of Credit [Member] London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Days	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Debt Of Majority Owned Dealerships [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Debt Of Majority Owned Dealerships [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Debt Of Majority Owned Dealerships [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Promissory Note With Lessor In Cherokee, Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Promissory Note [Member] USD ($) Installments	Sep. 29, 2011 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Promissory Note [Member] London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] Secured Debt [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Six [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] Illinois Finance Authority Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bond [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Tax Exempt Bond [Member] County of Cook Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 Manufacturing Operations [Member] Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 Manufacturing Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Five [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, 2014 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Three [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Three [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] Treasury Rate [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Maximum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Maximum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] Base Rate [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 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]	Oct. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Two [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] Base Rate [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Days	Oct. 31, 2014 Minimum [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Days	Oct. 31, 2009 Call Option [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Call Option [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Call Option [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 Call Option [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 Convertible Debt Securities [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Convertible Debt Securities [Member] Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Convertible Debt Securities [Member] Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Convertible Debt Securities [Member] Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 Interest Rate Floor [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Interest Rate Cap [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 G E Operating Agreement [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 G E Operating Agreement [Member] Manufacturing Operations [Member] Financed lease obligations [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2014 Letter of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2014 Letter of Credit [Member] Maximum [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Revolving Credit Facility [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 Term Loan [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Navistar Financial Retail Receivables Corporation [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Asset-backed Securities [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Mexican Finance Subsidiary [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 International Truck Leasing Corporation [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 International Truck Leasing Corporation [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 International Truck Leasing Corporation [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Navistar Financial Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Installment Payments Set Two [Member] Term Loan [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] Bank Facility [Member] USD ($) Installments	Oct. 31, 2014 United States Dollars and Mexican Pesos [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 United States Dollars and Mexican Pesos [Member] Financial Services Operations [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 United States of America, Dollars USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 United States of America, Dollars Financial Services Operations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 United States of America, Dollars Financial Services Operations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Mexico, Pesos USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 Mexico, Pesos Financial Services Operations [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Mexico, Pesos Financial Services Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payments to subsidiary to meet convenant requirement			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Maximum																																																																																																																				125.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity															840,000,000																		1,000,000,000																																					175,000,000																																					40,000,000	100,000,000	500,000,000	340,000,000
Loans Payable to Bank																										372,000,000																																																																																					502,000,000	200,000,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal																																																																																																																					9,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Participation Fee Reduction, Amount Outstanding in Excess of Maximum Borrowing Capacity																																																																																																										50,000,000
Long-term Line of Credit																																1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal, Percentage																																	0.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																																					8.25%							3.00%		4.50%	4.50%	4.50%	4.75%	4.75%											6.50%		6.50%																																							2.80%	7.60%
Repayments of Long-term Debt																																											404,000,000																												300,000,000
Payments of Debt Extinguishment Costs																																																																								13,000,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount												200,000,000	500,000,000	750,000,000				250,000,000	250,000,000	200,000,000	224,000,000			74,000,000	1,000,000,000											0		1,000,000,000				570,000,000				200,000,000	200,000,000		411,000,000									40,000,000						225,000,000		135,000,000	90,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt																						60,000,000	800,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt																																				310,000,000													402,000,000
Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs																																																	9,000,000																																															8,000,000	1,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium																																				4,000,000
Accrued Interest Received																																				10,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage																																				8.50%
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage																																								100.00%																									100.00%								104.125%	102.75%	101.375%	100.00%				103.00%	100.00%
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt																																																													2,300,000
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%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate																														350.00%				450.00%	125.00%																								2.75%																							50.00%	325.00%	225.00%				275.00%	175.00%
Payments for Derivative Instrument, Investing Activities																																																																																													125,000,000		125,000,000
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Indexed Shares																																																																																												11,337,870			11,337,870
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights																																										$ 60.14
Warrants and Rights Outstanding			4,814,551
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price								$ 54.07																																																																																						$ 58.40	$ 50.27			$ 50.27
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants							87,000,000																																			87,000,000
Charge Related to Repurchase of Debt		11,000,000
Shares of Call Options Unwound		8,026,456
Shares of Warrants Unwound		6,523,319				6,523,319
Proceeds from Convertible Debt																																															196,000,000
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs			15,000,000	20,000,000	57,000,000																																										3,000,000
Issuance Costs																																															1,000,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value									177,000,000	367,000,000																			58,000,000																	177,000,000	177,000,000			367,000,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component									22,000,000	44,000,000																																				22,000,000	22,000,000			44,000,000
Debt Issuance Cost																																				(4,000,000)										3,000,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Percentage of Stock Price Trigger																																								130.00%	130.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Trading Days																																																																																										20	20
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days																																								30 days	30 days
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Measurement Period, Trading Days, Ending																																								10
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Measurement Period, Business Days																																							10	5	5
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Price Percent																																								100.00%	100.00%			100.00%
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Ratio Basis																																									1,000																																																										1,000	1,000	1,000
Threshold percentage of last reported sale price of common stock																																																																																					98.00%	98.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio								18.4946																																	17.1233																																																										19.891	17.1233
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum																																																				4.30%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum																																																				7.70%
Present Value of Future Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions																											6,000,000	24,000,000
Capital Lease Obligations																											4,000,000	2,000,000
Long-term Debt			5,224,000,000								2,266,000,000					1,242,000,000	1,018,000,000										2,958,000,000		40,000,000	694,000,000	693,000,000													0	544,000,000	177,000,000	177,000,000	181,000,000		371,000,000	0		30,000,000	48,000,000	29,000,000	39,000,000					225,000,000	225,000,000						184,000,000	218,000,000																																			181,000,000	167,000,000													535,000,000	489,000,000
Debt instrument, percentage of borrowings denominated in countries currency																																																																																																																									51.00%	36.00%		49.00%	64.00%
Debt Instrument, Term																																																									10 years	4 years		2 years
Debt Instrument, Number Of Installment Payments																																																										16																																																											8
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company by Consolidated Subsidiaries	30,000,000
Pledged Assets, Other, Not Separately Reported on Statement of Financial Position											1,200,000,000	989,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Term Length															5
Commercial Paper																																																																																																																								74,000,000			1,000,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt			255,000,000	529,000,000	1,313,000,000																																																																																																												21,000,000
Secured Debt																																																																																																																		36,000,000	49,000,000
Loans Pledged as Collateral																																																																																																																		$ 48,000,000	$ 61,000,000