Condensed Consolidating Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information - Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Sales and revenues, net	$ 2,086	$ 2,538	$ 6,048	$ 7,652
Costs of products sold	1,757	2,172	5,068	6,577
Restructuring charges	5	13	11	22
Asset impairment charges	12	7	17	15
All other operating expenses (income)	328	360	969	1,120
Total costs and expenses	2,102	2,552	6,065	7,734
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	2	3	3	6
Income (loss) before income taxes	(14)	(11)	(14)	(76)
Income tax expense	(14)	(12)	(25)	(37)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(28)	(23)	(39)	(113)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	2	0	2
Net income (loss)	(28)	(21)	(39)	(111)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	6	7	24	23
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(10)	(42)	26	(169)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(34)	(28)	(63)	(134)
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)	18	12	75	62
Total costs and expenses	18	12	75	62
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	(16)	(16)	12	(72)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(34)	(28)	(63)	(134)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(34)	(28)	(63)	(134)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(34)	(28)	(63)	(134)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(10)	(42)	26	(169)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(34)	(28)	(63)	(134)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Sales and revenues, net	1,411	1,892	4,455	5,511
Costs of products sold	1,276	1,752	4,028	5,025
Restructuring charges	(1)	5	3	8
Asset impairment charges	0	0	2	8
All other operating expenses (income)	197	262	643	808
Total costs and expenses	1,472	2,019	4,676	5,849
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	63	76	118	155
Income (loss) before income taxes	2	(51)	(103)	(183)
Income tax expense	(1)	(1)	10	(3)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1	(52)	(93)	(186)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	1	(52)	(93)	(186)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	34	(44)	3	(116)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	1	(52)	(93)	(186)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Sales and revenues, net	1,432	1,875	4,055	5,586
Costs of products sold	1,216	1,627	3,447	4,932
Restructuring charges	6	8	8	14
Asset impairment charges	12	7	15	7
All other operating expenses (income)	131	102	305	306
Total costs and expenses	1,365	1,744	3,775	5,259
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	1	2	0	3
Income (loss) before income taxes	68	133	280	330
Income tax expense	(13)	(11)	(35)	(34)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	55	122	245	296
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	2	0	2
Net income (loss)	55	124	245	298
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	6	7	24	23
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	40	95	214	170
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	49	117	221	275
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Sales and revenues, net	(757)	(1,229)	(2,462)	(3,445)
Costs of products sold	(735)	(1,207)	(2,407)	(3,380)
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Asset impairment charges	0	0	0	0
All other operating expenses (income)	(18)	(16)	(54)	(56)
Total costs and expenses	(753)	(1,223)	(2,461)	(3,436)
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates	(46)	(59)	(127)	(80)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(50)	(65)	(128)	(89)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(50)	(65)	(128)	(89)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(50)	(65)	(128)	(89)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(74)	(51)	(217)	(54)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ (50)	$ (65)	$ (128)	$ (89)