Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) BRL in Millions			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2016 USD ($) bus	Jul. 16, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 BRL	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($) dealer	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 BRL	Jan. 31, 2014 BRL	Jan. 31, 2017 BRL	Jul. 31, 2015 engine
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Available stand-by letters of credit and surety bonds				$ 88,000,000
Purchase commitments				30,000,000
Long Term Purchase Commitment Cancellation Fees				46,000,000
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies				$ 20,000,000
Sao Paulo Groundwater Notice [Member] | Sanctions [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value			BRL 3		$ 1,000,000
International Chamber of Commerce [Member] | Penalties and Interest [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value					21,000,000
Navitrucks [Member] | Alleged Unfulfilled Promises and Injury to Reputation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value					41,000,000
Damages from Product Defects [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Notice of Violation, number | engine									7,749
Damages from Product Defects [Member] | EPA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Civil penalties sought, per violation		$ 37,500
G E Operating Agreement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating Agreement Excess Loss Percentage				10.00%
Loss Sharing Agreement, Percentage				9.50%				9.50%
Off Balance Sheet Finance Receivables				$ 1,400,000,000	1,500,000,000
Off Balance Sheet Finance Receivables Related Originations1				2,300,000,000	2,400,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Damages from Product Defects [Member] | EPA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Civil penalties sought, per violation		2,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Damages from Product Defects [Member] | EPA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Civil penalties sought, per violation		$ 291,000,000
G E Operating Agreement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Equipment leased to others				100,000,000	48,000,000
Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Financed lease obligations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Long-term Debt				107,000,000	52,000,000
Manufacturing Operations [Member] | G E Operating Agreement [Member] | Financed lease obligations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Long-term Debt				107,000,000	51,000,000
Pending Litigation [Member] | Disputes [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value					50,000,000
Pending Litigation [Member] | FATMA Notice, Trial [Member] | Penalties [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value					1,000,000	BRL 2
IIAA Vs. Navitrucks [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain Contingency, Unrecorded Amount				45,000,000
IIAA Vs. Navitrucks [Member] | International Chamber of Commerce [Member] | Penalties and Interest [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value					$ 25,000,000
Navitrucks Vs. IIAA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss				$ 48,000,000
Polar Express School Bus and Lakeview Bus Lines v. Navistar, Inc and IC Bus LLC [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Damages from Product Defects [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Number of Buses | bus	40
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value, Compensatory Damages	$ 7,000,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value, Punitive Damages	$ 50,000,000
Brazil, Brazil Real | International Chamber of Commerce [Member] | Penalties and Interest [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value | BRL							BRL 64
Brazil, Brazil Real | Navitrucks [Member] | Alleged Unfulfilled Promises and Injury to Reputation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value | BRL							BRL 128
Brazil, Brazil Real | IIAA Vs. Navitrucks [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain Contingency, Unrecorded Amount | BRL								BRL 139
Brazil, Brazil Real | IIAA Vs. Navitrucks [Member] | International Chamber of Commerce [Member] | Penalties and Interest [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, value | BRL						BRL 78
Brazil, Brazil Real | Navitrucks Vs. IIAA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss | BRL								BRL 148
International Indústria de Motores da América do Sul Ltda [Member] | Other Cases Vs. International Indústria de Motores da América do Sul Ltda [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Number of Truck Dealers | dealer				2
Loss Contingency, Number of Truck Fleet Owners | dealer				2