Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($) employees segments	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($) employees	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Costs of products sold	$ 1,776	$ 1,845	$ 3,146	$ 3,311
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ (80)	4	(142)	(29)
Number Of Segments | segments	4
Goodwill	$ 38		38		$ 38
Sales of manufactured products, net	2,063	2,164	3,692	3,894
Interest expense	89	81	171	162
Capital expenditures	$ 20	24	66	53
Proceeds from finance lease obligations			16	12
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)			$ (10)	51
Document Type			10-Q
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number Of Employees Hourly Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	6,300		6,300
concentration risk number of employees percentage	95.00%		95.00%
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number of Employees Salaried Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	900		900
concentration risk number of employees percentage	17.00%		17.00%
North America Truck [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 0	0	$ 0	0
Capital expenditures	14	19	57	44
Extended Warranty Programs [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue, Revenue Recognized	47	$ 38	81	$ 76
Deferred Revenue	$ 287		$ 287		$ 325