Stockholders' Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Sep. 05, 2016	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic										$ 28
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance				$ (2,211)				$ (2,640)	$ (2,211)	(2,640)	$ (2,601)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									169	275	(170)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									122	154	131
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									291	429	(39)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance					$ (2,211)				(1,920)	(2,211)	(2,640)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Total before tax		$ (170)	$ (55)	73	$ (135)	$ (36)	$ 80	62	(368)	(54)	65
Tax expense									(52)	(10)	(33)
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation									340	$ 30	(97)
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount									$ 58
Common stock, shares authorized					220.0				220.0	220.0
Common stock, par value					$ 0.10				$ 0.10	$ 0.10
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	$ 0	$ 1	1
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									0	(1)	0
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									0	0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									0	(1)	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance					$ 0				0	0	1
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance				(283)				(280)	(283)	(280)	(287)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									(32)	(3)	7
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									0	0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									(32)	(3)	7
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance					(283)				(315)	(283)	(280)
Pension Benefits
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Beginning Balance				$ (1,928)				$ (2,361)	(1,928)	(2,361)	(2,315)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications									201	279	(177)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss									122	154	131
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)									323	433	(46)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Ending Balance					(1,928)				(1,605)	(1,928)	(2,361)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Pension Benefits
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Amortization of prior service costs (benefit)									0	0	(1)
Amortization of actuarial loss									114	138	133
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Settlement and Curtailment Gain (Loss), after Tax									9	0	0
Total before tax									123	161	132
Tax expense									(1)	(7)	(1)
Reclassification from AOCI, Current Period, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent									122	154	131
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount									1
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
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	$ 256
Insurance Settlement [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Pension Benefits
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Settlement and Curtailment Gain (Loss), after Tax									$ 0	23	$ 0
Pension Benefits
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Net					$ 8					$ 8