Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($) employees segments	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($) employees segments	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Less: Intercompany revenues	$ 33,000,000	$ 36,000,000	$ 114,000,000	$ 78,000,000
Costs of products sold	2,096,000,000	1,803,000,000	5,615,000,000	4,949,000,000
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ 170,000,000	37,000,000	$ 152,000,000	(105,000,000)
Number Of Segments | segments	4		4
Goodwill	$ 38,000,000		$ 38,000,000		$ 38,000,000
Sales of manufactured products, net	2,566,000,000	2,178,000,000	6,815,000,000	5,870,000,000
Interest expense	82,000,000	91,000,000	240,000,000	262,000,000
Capital expenditures	26,000,000	27,000,000	79,000,000	93,000,000
Proceeds from finance lease obligations			48,000,000	49,000,000
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)			$ (4,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Document Type			10-Q
Costs and Expenses, Related Party	2,000,000	2,000,000	$ 21,000,000	4,000,000
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties	11,000,000		11,000,000		13,000,000
Accounts Payable, Related Parties	20,000,000		20,000,000		5,000,000
Inventory, Gross	$ 191,000,000		$ 191,000,000		206,000,000
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number Of Employees Hourly Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	7,800		7,800
concentration risk number of employees percentage	98.00%		98.00%
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number of Employees Salaried Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	700		700
concentration risk number of employees percentage	13.00%		13.00%
North America Truck [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 0	0	$ 0	0
Capital expenditures	19,000,000	21,000,000	74,000,000	78,000,000
Extended Warranty Programs [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue, Revenue Recognized	24,000,000	$ 28,000,000	80,000,000	$ 109,000,000
Deferred Revenue	$ 248,000,000		$ 248,000,000		$ 271,000,000