Condensed Consolidating Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information - Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
Sales and revenues, net	$ 2,693	$ 2,746	$ 5,114	$ 4,954
Costs of products sold	2,360	2,468	4,405	4,482
Restructuring charges	6	8	9	11
Asset impairment charges	1	151	8	169
All other operating expenses (income)	366	386	760	811
Total costs and expenses	2,733	3,013	5,182	5,473
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	1	3	3	3
Income (loss) before income taxes	(39)	(264)	(65)	(516)
Income tax expense	(18)	(23)	(25)	(11)
Total before tax	(57)	(287)	(90)	(527)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	1	0	2
Net income (loss)	(57)	(286)	(90)	(525)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	7	11	16	20
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(64)	(297)	(106)	(545)
Parent Company [Member]
Sales and revenues, net	0	0	0	0
Costs of products sold	0	0	0	0
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Asset impairment charges	0	0	0	0
All other operating expenses (income)	27	41	50	77
Total costs and expenses	27	41	50	77
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	(37)	(269)	(56)	(481)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(64)	(310)	(106)	(558)
Income tax expense	0	13	0	13
Total before tax	(64)	(297)	(106)	(545)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(64)	(297)	(106)	(545)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(64)	(297)	(106)	(545)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Sales and revenues, net	2,009	1,893	3,619	3,317
Costs of products sold	1,864	1,797	3,273	3,222
Restructuring charges	0	8	3	10
Asset impairment charges	1	0	8	0
All other operating expenses (income)	282	273	546	514
Total costs and expenses	2,147	2,078	3,830	3,746
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	64	(141)	79	(152)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(74)	(326)	(132)	(581)
Income tax expense	(1)	(8)	(2)	(1)
Total before tax	(75)	(334)	(134)	(582)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(75)	(334)	(134)	(582)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(75)	(334)	(134)	(582)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Sales and revenues, net	1,943	2,061	3,711	3,790
Costs of products sold	1,735	1,862	3,305	3,393
Restructuring charges	6	0	6	1
Asset impairment charges	0	153	0	171
All other operating expenses (income)	79	89	204	248
Total costs and expenses	1,820	2,104	3,515	3,813
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	0	2	1	1
Income (loss) before income taxes	123	(41)	197	(22)
Income tax expense	(17)	(28)	(23)	(23)
Total before tax	106	(69)	174	(45)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	1	0	2
Net income (loss)	106	(68)	174	(43)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	7	11	16	20
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	99	(79)	158	(63)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Sales and revenues, net	(1,259)	(1,208)	(2,216)	(2,153)
Costs of products sold	(1,239)	(1,191)	(2,173)	(2,133)
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Asset impairment charges	0	(2)	0	(2)
All other operating expenses (income)	(22)	(17)	(40)	(28)
Total costs and expenses	(1,261)	(1,210)	(2,213)	(2,163)
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	(26)	411	(21)	635
Income (loss) before income taxes	(24)	413	(24)	645
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Total before tax	(24)	413	(24)	645
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(24)	413	(24)	645
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ (24)	$ 413	$ (24)	$ 645