Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($) employees segments	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($) employees	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Costs of products sold	$ 1,845	$ 2,360		$ 3,311	$ 4,405
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ 4	(64)		(29)	(106)
Number Of Segments | segments	4
Goodwill	$ 38			38		$ 38
Sales of manufactured products, net	2,164	2,658		3,894	5,043
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	53	74		111	153
Interest expense	81	75		162	152
Capital expenditures	$ 24	28		53	45
Proceeds from financed lease obligations				12	20
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)				$ 51	(39)
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number Of Employees Hourly Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	5,300			5,300
concentration risk number of employees percentage	79.00%			79.00%
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number of Employees Salaried Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	300			300
concentration risk number of employees percentage	5.00%			5.00%
Product Warranty Accrual [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)	$ 46		$ (57)
North America Truck [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)			$ 7
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	29	47		$ 63	99
Interest expense	0	0		0	0
Capital expenditures	19	24		44	38
Extended Warranty Programs [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue, Revenue Recognized	38	$ 38		76	$ 75
Deferred Revenue	$ 367			$ 367		$ 401