| **Condensed Consolidating Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Tables)** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               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| **Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]**       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   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| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Table Text Block]                     |   NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Year Ended October 31, 2009          Sales and revenues, net $— $6,210 $11,013 $(5,654) $11,569Costs of products sold 6 5,859 9,139 (5,638) 9,366Impairment of property and equipment — (1) 32 — 31Restructuring charges — 59 — — 59All other operating expenses (income) (7) 1,139 778 (110) 1,800Total costs and expenses (1) 7,056 9,949 (5,748) 11,256Equity in income (loss) of affiliates 320 983 51 (1,308) 46Income (loss) before income tax and extraordinary gain 321 137 1,115 (1,214) 359Income tax benefit (expense) (1) 48 (84) — (37)Income (loss) before extraordinary gain 320 185 1,031 (1,214) 322Extraordinary gain, net of tax — — 23 — 23Net income (loss) 320 185 1,054 (1,214) 345Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests — — 25 — 25Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation $320 $185 $1,029 $(1,214) $320  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Year Ended October 31, 2010          Sales and revenues, net $— $6,751 $11,278 $(5,884) $12,145Costs of products sold (1) 6,303 9,245 (5,806) 9,741Restructuring charges — (13) (2) — (15)All other operating expenses (income) 61 1,349 763 (94) 2,079Total costs and expenses 60 7,639 10,006 (5,900) 11,805Equity in income (loss) of affiliates 283 895 (17) (1,211) (50)Income (loss) before income tax 223 7 1,255 (1,195) 290Income tax benefit (expense) — 55 (78) — (23)Net income (loss) 223 62 1,177 (1,195) 267Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest — — 44 — 44Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation $223 $62 $1,133 $(1,195) $223  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the year Ended October 31, 2011          Sales and revenues, net $— $8,319 $13,202 $(7,563) $13,958Costs of products sold — 7,775 10,974 (7,487) 11,262Restructuring charges — 33 59 — 92Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets — — 64 — 64All other operating expenses 79 1,263 902 (95) 2,149Total costs and expenses 79 9,071 11,999 (7,582) 13,567Equity in income (loss) of affiliates 1,759 462 (37) (2,255) (71)Income (loss) before income tax 1,680 (290) 1,166 (2,236) 320Income tax benefit (expense) 43 1,937 (511) (11) 1,458Net income (loss) 1,723 1,647 655 (2,247) 1,778Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests — — 55 — 55Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation $1,723 $1,647 $600 $(2,247) $1,723                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]                               |   NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2011          Assets          Cash and cash equivalents $226 $13 $300 $— $539Marketable securities 429 1 288 — 718Restricted cash and cash equivalents 20 9 298 — 327Finance and other receivables, net 3 154 4,070 27 4,254Inventories — 650 1,113 (49) 1,714Investments in non-consolidated affiliates (2,094) 5,818 54 (3,718) 60Property and equipment, net — 600 972 (2) 1,570Goodwill — — 319 — 319Deferred taxes, net 31 1,912 114 — 2,057Other 168 152 416 (3) 733Total Assets $(1,217) $9,309 $7,944 $(3,745) $12,291Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)          Debt $1,689 $156 $3,242 $(231) $4,856Postretirement benefits liabilities — 2,981 335 — 3,316Amounts due to (from) affiliates (5,574) 9,055 (3,595) 114 —Other liabilities 2,690 (194) 1,717 (122) 4,091Total Liabilities (1,195) 11,998 1,699 (239) 12,263Redeemable equity securities 5 — — — 5Stockholders’ equity attributable to non-controlling interests — — 52 (2) 50Stockholders’ equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation (27) (2,689) 6,193 (3,504) (27)Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) $(1,217) $9,309 $7,944 $(3,745) $12,291  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2010          Assets          Cash and cash equivalents $239 $22 $324 $— $585Marketable securities 375 — 211 — 586Restricted cash and cash equivalents 20 9 151 — 180Finance and other receivables, net 9 222 3,730 (15) 3,946Inventories — 644 974 (50) 1,568Goodwill — — 324 — 324Property and equipment, net — 443 1,003 (4) 1,442Investments in non-consolidated affiliates (3,006) 5,290 60 (2,241) 103Deferred taxes, net 1 1 146 (2) 146Other 266 118 467 (1) 850Total Assets $(2,096) $6,749 $7,390 $(2,313) $9,730Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)          Debt $1,666 $213 $3,220 $(229) $4,870Postretirement benefits liabilities — 1,907 272 — 2,179Amounts due to (from) affiliates (5,058) 8,111 (3,140) 87 —Other liabilities 2,269 112 1,369 (145) 3,605Total Liabilities (1,123) 10,343 1,721 (287) 10,654Redeemable equity securities 8 — — — 8Stockholders’ equity attributable to non-controlling interest — — 49 — 49Stockholders’ equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation (981) (3,594) 5,620 (2,026) (981)Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) $(2,096) $6,749 $7,390 $(2,313) $9,730                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows [Table Text Block]                     |   NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended October 31, 2009          Net cash provided by (used in) operations $165 $(55) $894 $234 $1,238Cash flow from investment activities          Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents (19) (4) 94 — 71Net sales of marketable securities 1 — 1 — 2Capital expenditures — (46) (151) — (197)Other investing activities — (71) (78) 61 (88)Net cash provided by (used in) investment activities (18) (121) (134) 61 (212)Cash flow from financing activities          Net borrowings (repayments) of debt 166 185 (807) (234) (690)Other financing activities (53) — 40 (61) (74)Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 113 185 (767) (295) (764)Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents — — 9 — 9Increase in cash and cash equivalents 260 9 2 — 271Increase in cash and cash equivalents upon consolidation of BDP and BDT — — 80 — 80Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 532 27 302 — 861Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year $792 $36 $384 $— $1,212  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended October 31, 2010          Net cash provided by (used in) operations $(174) $(421) $1,041 $661 $1,107Cash flow from investment activities          Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents — — 515 — 515Net purchases in marketable securities (374) — (212) — (586)Capital expenditures — (107) (172) — (279)Other investing activities (20) (84) (13) 33 (84)Net cash provided by (used in) investment activities (394) (191) 118 33 (434)Cash flow from financing activities          Net borrowings (repayments) of debt (20) 598 (1,195) (661) (1,278)Other financing activities 35 — (24) (33) (22)Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 15 598 (1,219) (694) (1,300)Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents — — — — —Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (553) (14) (60) — (627)Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 792 36 384 — 1,212Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year $239 $22 $324 $— $585  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)          Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended October 31, 2011          Net cash provided by (used in) operations $(44) $(66) $556 $434 $880Cash flow from investment activities          Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents — — (147) — (147)Net sales (purchases) of marketable securities (55) — (77) — (132)Capital expenditures — (264) (236) — (500)Other investing activities — (12) (32) — (44)Net cash provided by (used in) investment activities (55) (276) (492) — (823)Cash flow from financing activities          Net borrowings (repayments) of debt 91 333 48 (434) 38Other financing activities (5) — (133) — (138)Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 86 333 (85) (434) (100)Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents — — (3) — (3)Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (13) (9) (24) — (46)Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 239 22 324 — 585Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year $226 $13 $300 $— $539 |

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