Stockholders' Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017	Jul. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock						$ 0	$ 256
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance		$ (2,154)	$ (2,412)	$ (2,579)		(2,211)	(2,640)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(13)		114		(21)	106
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss		29		53		94	122
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		16		167		73	228
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance		(2,138)	(2,211)	(2,412)	$ (2,579)	(2,138)	(2,412)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Restructuring Charges		1	$ 6	(13)		(1)	(4)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Settlement and Curtailment Gain (Loss), before Tax		0		0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		177		41		172	(88)
Tax expense		(3)		0		(25)	(10)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation		$ 170		37		$ 152	(105)
Common stock, shares authorized		220.0	220.0			220.0
Common stock, par value		$ 0.1	$ 0.10			$ 0.1
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance		$ 0	$ 1	1		$ 0	1
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		0		0		0	0
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss		0		0		0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		0		0		0	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance		0	0	1	1	0	1
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance		(289)	(246)	(288)		(283)	(280)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(13)		42		(19)	34
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss		0		0		0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		(13)		42		(19)	34
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance		(302)	(283)	(246)	(288)	(302)	(246)
Pension Benefits
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance		(1,865)	(2,167)	(2,292)		(1,928)	(2,361)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		0		72		(2)	72
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss		29		53		94	122
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		29		125		92	194
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance		(1,836)	$ (1,928)	(2,167)	$ (2,292)	(1,836)	(2,167)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Amortization of actuarial loss		29		36		86	106
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Pension Benefits
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Amortization of actuarial loss						9	0
Restructuring Charges		0		23		0	23
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(29)		(59)		(95)	(129)
Tax expense		0		(6)		(1)	(7)
Reclassification from AOCI, Current Period, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		$ 29		$ 53		$ 94	$ 122
Volkswagen Truck and Bus GmbH [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Stock Purchase Agreement, Ownership Percentage Transferred to Acquirer, Pro Forma	16.60%
Stock Purchase Agreement, Ownership Percentage Transferred to Acquirer	19.90%
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	16.2
Share Price					$ 15.76
Issuance of common stock					$ 256