| **Acquisition and disposals of business**            | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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| **Acquisition and disposals of business [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         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| Acquisition and disposals of business                | Acquisitions and disposals of businesses NC2 Global, LLC In September 2009, NC2 Global, LLC (“NC2”) was established as a joint venture with Caterpillar Inc. (“Caterpillar”) to develop, manufacture, and distribute conventional and cab-over truck designs to serve the global commercial truck market. In September 2011, Navistar, Inc. restructured our relationship with Caterpillar resulting in the termination of the joint venture agreement and the Company subsequently acquired all of Caterpillar's ownership interest in NC2, thereby increasing the Company's equity interest in NC2 from 50% to 100%.  To acquire the increased interest, Navistar, Inc. entered into a $40 million floating rate promissory note with Caterpillar, under which the principal amount will be repaid over a 4 year term with 16 quarterly installments. We have consolidated the operating results of NC2 within our Truck segment since September 30, 2011. The effects of accounting for this acquisition were not material.Blue Diamond Parts In August 2001, BDP was formed as a joint venture between Ford and Navistar, Inc. (collectively, the “Members”), with Ford owning 51% and Navistar owning 49%. BDP manages the sourcing, merchandising, and distribution of various spare parts for vehicles the Members sell in North America. These spare parts are primarily for Navistar diesel engines in Ford trucks, commercial truck parts, and certain parts for F650/750 and Low-Cab Forward trucks produced for Ford by BDT. Substantially all of BDP's transactions are between BDP and the Members. In June 2009, pursuant to the provisions of the Ford Settlement, we increased our equity interest in BDP from 49% to 75%, effective June 1, 2009. Our voting interest in BDP remains 50%. The receipt of additional equity interest from Ford was among the various components of the Ford Settlement, and no additional consideration was paid to Ford in connection with the increase in equity interest in BDP. We determined the fair value of the increased interest in BDP based on a discounted cash flow model utilizing BDP's estimated future cash flows. The fair value of the increased interest, net of settlement of an executory contract, was $23 million and we recognized a gain of this amount in Other income, net in our Engine segment in the third quarter of 2009. With the increase in our equity interest, we determined that we are now the primary beneficiary of BDP and have consolidated the operating results of BDP since June 1, 2009. As a result of the BDP acquisition, we recognized an intangible asset for customer relationships of $45 million and have assigned a useful life of nine years. For additional information on the Ford related restructuring activity, see Note 2, Restructurings and impairments. The unaudited pro forma financial information in the table below summarizes the combined results of operations of Navistar and BDP as though BDP had been combined as of the beginning of the periods presented. The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the periods, or that may result in the future.  2009(A)  (in millions, except per share data)(Unaudited)Sales and revenue, net$11,702Income before extraordinary gain295Net income343Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest25Net income attributable to Navistar International Corporation318  Pro forma basic earnings per share attributable to Navistar International Corporation: Income attributable to Navistar International Corporation before extraordinary gain$4.15Extraordinary gain, net of tax0.33Net income attributable to Navistar International Corporation$4.48  Pro forma diluted earnings per share attributable to Navistar International Corporation: Income attributable to Navistar International Corporation before extraordinary gain$4.11Extraordinary gain, net of tax0.32Net income attributable to Navistar International Corporation$4.43______________________(A)Effective June 1, 2009, BDP changed its fiscal year from December 31 to October 31. Also effective June 1, 2009, BDP is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary. The unaudited pro forma financial information for the year ended October 31, 2009, as presented above, reflects the change in fiscal year and is based on the historical unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations of BDP for the seven months ended May 31, 2009 (through the date of acquisition) and results of operations of BDP from June 1, 2009 through October 31, 2009 are included in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. Monaco Coach Corporation In June 2009, we acquired certain assets of Monaco Coach Corporation, a former recreational vehicle manufacturer, for cash consideration of approximately $50 million including transaction costs and the payment of certain tax liabilities of $5 million. The acquisition fits our strategy of leveraging our assets to expand our diesel business, serving the end customer, and complements our WCC business. The fair value assigned to the net assets acquired exceeded the purchase price and was allocated as a pro rata reduction of the amounts that would have otherwise been assigned to noncurrent assets that are not held-for-sale, including property and equipment and other intangible assets. The excess that remained after reducing to zero the amounts that otherwise would have been assigned to noncurrent assets was $23 million and was recognized in Extraordinary gain, net of tax in our Truck segment. The fair values of the assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date after the pro rata allocations were $73 million of Inventories, $1 million of Other noncurrent assets, and $1 million of Other current liabilities. The results of operations for Monaco have been included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations since its acquisition in our Truck segment. Blue Diamond Truck BDT was formed in September 2001 as a joint venture between us and Ford to manufacture and develop certain medium and light commercial trucks for sale to us and Ford. Historically, BDT has not resulted in material amounts of Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates. In June 2009, pursuant to the provisions of the Ford Settlement, we increased our equity interest in BDT from 51% to 75%, effective June 1, 2009. Our voting interest in BDT remains 50%. The receipt of additional equity interest from Ford was among the various components of the Ford Settlement, and no additional consideration was paid to Ford in connection with the increase in equity interest in BDT. We determined the fair value of the increased interest in BDT based on a discounted cash flow model utilizing BDT's estimated future cash flows. No gain or loss was recognized in connection with the increased equity interest in BDT. The settlement of executory contracts did not impact the transaction as they approximated fair value. With the increase in our equity interest, we determined that we are now the primary beneficiary of BDT and have consolidated the operating results of BDT since June 1, 2009 in our Truck segment. As we are consolidating BDT as a result of being the primary beneficiary of the VIE, we recorded the initial consolidation based on 100% of the fair values of BDT's assets and liabilities. For additional information on the Ford related restructuring activity, see Note 2, Restructurings and impairments. In December 2011, Ford notified the Company of its intention to dissolve the BDT joint venture effective December 2014. Continental Diesel Systems US, LLC  In October 2009, we acquired all of the membership interests and certain assets and assumed certain liabilities associated with CDS's Amplified Common Rail injector business, for total consideration of approximately $20 million consisting of $18 million of cash and $2 million of net consideration related to the settlement of prior disputes between the Company and Continental. CDS is a leading manufacturer of injectors used in fuel systems that are installed into various diesel engines. The acquired company, renamed Pure Power Technologies, LLC ("PPT"), will allow us to further vertically integrate research and development, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to produce world-class diesel power systems and advanced emissions control systems. The fair value assigned to the net assets acquired exceeded the purchase price and the excess was allocated as a pro rata reduction of the amounts that would have otherwise been assigned to noncurrent assets including property and equipment and other intangible assets. As the acquisition closed on October 31, 2009, the assets and liabilities of CDS were consolidated into our Consolidated Balance Sheet effective October 31, 2009, while the results of operations were consolidated into our Consolidated Statements of Operations beginning November 1, 2009 in our Engine segment. For additional information on the settlement of prior disputes between the Company and Continental, see Note 2, Restructurings and impairments. Workhorse Custom Chassis Escrow As part of our 2005 acquisition of WCC, $25 million of the purchase price was set aside in an escrow account to be used to indemnify us for certain contingencies assumed upon acquisition. As of October 31, 2009, $16 million remained in escrow and we asserted claims in excess of that amount for reimbursement from the seller. In 2009, we received $9 million from the escrow account as resolution to our asserted claims. The purchase price was reduced by $7 million and was recorded as a reduction to goodwill and we recognized $2 million in Costs of products sold. Dealer operations We acquire and dispose of dealerships from time to time to facilitate the transition of dealerships from one independent owner to another. These dealerships are included in our consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition in our Truck segment. We did not acquire any dealerships in 2011, 2010, or 2009.  We sold four, three, and four of our Dealcors during the years ended October 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. The gains or losses associated with the sales of these Dealcors were not material. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for business combinations, including leverage buyout transactions (as applicable), and divestitures.  This may include a description of a business combination or divestiture (or series of individually immaterial business combinations or divestitures) completed during the period, including background, timing, and assets and liabilities recognized and reclassified or sold. This element does not include fixed asset sales and plant closings.
+ References
No definition available.
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