Debt - Narrative (Details)	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($) Days	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) Days $ / shares	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 07, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 15, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2009 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months					$ 1,178,000,000									$ 1,178,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																				$ 100,000,000
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company by Consolidated Subsidiaries														0	$ 220,000,000	$ 125,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount					78,000,000									78,000,000
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs														29,000,000	16,000,000	25,000,000
Long-term Debt					5,058,000,000									5,058,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt														322,000,000	413,000,000	549,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two					989,000,000									989,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three					1,078,000,000									1,078,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four					197,000,000									197,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five					1,469,000,000									1,469,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Rolling after Year Five					225,000,000									225,000,000
Long-term Debt, Gross					$ 5,136,000,000									5,136,000,000
Payments to subsidiary to meet convenant requirement														$ 0		0	$ 0
Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio					18.4946
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares														$ 54.07
Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months					$ 292,000,000									$ 292,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount					71,000,000									71,000,000
Long-term Debt					3,407,000,000									3,407,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two					443,000,000									443,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three					1,017,000,000									1,017,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four					41,000,000									41,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five					1,460,000,000									1,460,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Rolling after Year Five					225,000,000									225,000,000
Long-term Debt, Gross					3,478,000,000									3,478,000,000
Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months					886,000,000									886,000,000
Pledged Assets, Other, Not Separately Reported on Statement of Financial Position					1,100,000,000									1,100,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount					7,000,000									7,000,000
Long-term Debt					1,651,000,000									1,651,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two					546,000,000									546,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three					61,000,000									61,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four					156,000,000									156,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five					9,000,000									9,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Rolling after Year Five					0									0
Long-term Debt, Gross					1,658,000,000									1,658,000,000
Financial Services Operations | VFN Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																				$ 375,000,000	$ 500,000,000				$ 500,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																								$ 40,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Participation Fee Reduction, Percentage																								1.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Participation Fee Reduction, Amount Outstanding in Excess of Maximum Borrowing Capacity																								$ 50,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Financial Services Operations | Bank Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 275,000,000			$ 500,000,000	127,000,000									127,000,000					$ 400,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Fair Value of Amount Outstanding					75,000,000									75,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Accordion Feature, Higher Borrowing Capacity Option																			$ 700,000,000
Term Loan [Member] | Financial Services Operations | Bank Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	82,000,000
Installment Payments Set Two [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Financial Services Operations | Bank Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	$ 2,000,000			$ 9,000,000
Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																										$ 175,000,000
Debt Instrument, Liquidity Block																										13,000,000
Long-term Line of Credit		$ 0				$ 0	$ 0								0	0
Debt Instrument, Permitted Receivables Financing																							$ 50,000,000			25,000,000
Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Increase to Borrowing Capacity																							200,000,000
Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Increase to Borrowing Capacity																							$ 352,500,000
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																		$ 1,000,000,000				$ 1,000,000,000				$ 1,000,000,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal, Percentage																						0.25%				0.25%
Debt Instrument, Permitted Receivables Financing																						$ 50,000,000				$ 25,000,000
Debt Instrument, Call Premium							1.00%
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)			$ 3,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount			$ 10,000,000
Payments of Financing Costs							$ 12,000,000
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs							11,000,000
Line of Credit [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount		14,000,000				7,000,000	14,000,000								7,000,000	14,000,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		7,000,000				9,000,000	7,000,000								9,000,000	7,000,000
Long-term Debt					1,003,000,000	1,009,000,000								1,003,000,000	1,009,000,000
Line of Credit [Member] | Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		3,000,000				2,000,000	3,000,000								2,000,000	3,000,000
Long-term Debt					$ 616,000,000	861,000,000								$ 616,000,000	861,000,000
Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																									$ 0			$ 1,000,000,000
Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Eight Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount		15,000,000				13,000,000	15,000,000								13,000,000	15,000,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		$ 12,000,000				14,000,000	12,000,000								14,000,000	12,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					8.25%									8.25%
Long-term Debt					$ 1,423,000,000	1,173,000,000								$ 1,423,000,000	1,173,000,000
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Ratio Basis														$ 1,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio														17.1233
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage											100.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Percentage of Stock Price Trigger											130.00%			130.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days | Days											30			30
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Measurement Period, Trading Days, Ending | Days											10
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Measurement Period, Business Days		10									5			5
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Price Percent											100.00%
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Price Percent														100.00%
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount												$ 200,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount		$ 10,000,000				5,000,000	10,000,000								5,000,000	10,000,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		1,000,000				$ 1,000,000	1,000,000								$ 1,000,000	1,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						4.50%						4.50%			4.50%
Proceeds from Convertible Debt												$ 196,000,000
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs												3,000,000
Issuance Costs												1,000,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value												177,000,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component												22,000,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross												$ 3,000,000
Long-term Debt					194,000,000	$ 189,000,000								$ 194,000,000	$ 189,000,000
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount											$ 411,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount		24,000,000				14,000,000	24,000,000								14,000,000	24,000,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		4,000,000				$ 3,000,000	4,000,000								$ 3,000,000	4,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt											402,000,000
Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs											9,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						4.75%									4.75%
Long-term Debt, Fair Value											367,000,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component											$ 44,000,000
Long-term Debt					394,000,000	$ 383,000,000								394,000,000	$ 383,000,000
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt					43,000,000	70,000,000								43,000,000	70,000,000
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						$ 300,000,000		$ 250,000,000							300,000,000
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Financial Services Operations | Investor Notes Maturing Two Thousand and Fifteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount									$ 250,000,000
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Financial Services Operations | Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Term						2 years		2 years	2 years
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Financial Services Operations | Investor Notes Sold to Initial Purchasers [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount								$ 240,000,000
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Financial Services Operations | Investor Notes Maturing October Two Thousand Thirteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount									$ 200,000,000
Financed lease obligations [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt					$ 130,000,000	$ 52,000,000								$ 130,000,000	52,000,000
Tax Exempt Bond [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																											$ 225,000,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		5,000,000				5,000,000	5,000,000								5,000,000	5,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt															0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					6.50%									6.50%				6.50%
Long-term Debt					$ 220,000,000	220,000,000								$ 220,000,000	220,000,000
Tax Exempt Bond [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Illinois Finance Authority Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bond [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																											135,000,000
Tax Exempt Bond [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | County of Cook Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																											$ 90,000,000
Secured Debt [Member] | Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		$ 6,000,000				5,000,000	$ 6,000,000								5,000,000	$ 6,000,000
Long-term Debt					849,000,000	753,000,000								$ 849,000,000	$ 753,000,000
Base Rate [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate							4.50%
Eurodollar [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate							5.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate													275.00%
Minimum [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Trading Days | Days											20			20
Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate													175.00%
Minimum [Member] | Eurodollar [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate							1.00%
Minimum [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate													275.00%
Maximum [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Threshold percentage of last reported sale price of common stock											98.00%
Maximum [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Threshold percentage of last reported sale price of common stock														98.00%
Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate													225.00%
Maximum [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Amended and Restated Asset-Based Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate													325.00%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Six [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage																		100.00%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member] | Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage															104.125%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member] | Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage															102.75%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four [Member] | Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage															101.375%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario One [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Five [Member] | Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage															100.00%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Scenario Three [Member] | Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage										100.00%
Call Option [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares														$ 58.40
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs											$ 8,000,000
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs											$ 1,000,000
United States Dollars and Mexican Pesos [Member] | Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt					$ 411,000,000									$ 411,000,000
Mexico, Pesos
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commercial Paper									$ 1,800,000,000
Mexico, Pesos | Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, percentage of borrowings denominated in countries currency					63.00%									63.00%
United States of America, Dollars
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commercial Paper					$ 94,000,000									$ 94,000,000
United States of America, Dollars | Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, percentage of borrowings denominated in countries currency					37.00%									37.00%
International Truck Leasing Corporation [Member] | Financial Services Operations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt														$ 31,000,000	$ 41,000,000
Secured Debt					$ 94,000,000	98,000,000								94,000,000	98,000,000
Loans Pledged as Collateral					$ 117,000,000	119,000,000								$ 117,000,000	119,000,000
Navistar Financial Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Maximum					125.00%									125.00%
Interest Rate Floor [Member] | Financed lease obligations [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																									4.52%
Interest Rate Cap [Member] | Financed lease obligations [Member] | Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																									12.52%
Affiliated Entity [Member] | NFM [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt						$ 67,000,000									$ 67,000,000