Stockholders' Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance				$ (2,263)				$ (1,824)	$ (2,263)	$ (1,824)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									(469)	(542)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									131	103
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									(338)	(439)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance	$ (2,601)				$ (2,263)				(2,601)	(2,263)	$ (1,824)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Total before tax	(51)	$ (30)	$ (64)	(42)	(72)	$ (3)	$ (298)	(249)	(154)	(582)	(803)
Tax expense									(51)	(26)	171
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									(184)	(619)	(898)
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance				1				0	1	0
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									0	1
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									0	1
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance	1				1				1	1	0
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance				(127)				(75)	(127)	(75)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									(160)	(52)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									(160)	(52)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance	(287)				(127)				(287)	(127)	(75)
Pension Benefits
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance				$ (2,137)				$ (1,749)	(2,137)	(1,749)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									(309)	(491)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									131	103
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									(178)	(388)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance	$ (2,315)				$ (2,137)				(2,315)	(2,137)	$ (1,749)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Pension Benefits
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Total before tax									132	105
Tax expense									(1)	(2)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									131	103
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Pension Benefits | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Amortization of prior service benefit									(4)	(4)
Amortization of actuarial loss									$ (136)	$ (109)