| **Summary of significant accounting policies** | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| **Accounting Policies [Abstract]**             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       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| Summary of significant accounting policies     | Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesOrganization and Description of the BusinessNavistar International Corporation ("NIC"), incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1993, is a holding company whose principal operating subsidiaries are Navistar, Inc. and Navistar Financial Corporation ("NFC"). References herein to the "Company," "we," "our," or "us" refer collectively to NIC, its subsidiaries, and certain variable interest entities ("VIEs") of which we are the primary beneficiary. We operate in four principal industry segments: Truck, Engine, Parts (collectively called "manufacturing operations"), and Financial Services, which consists of NFC and our foreign finance operations (collectively called "financial services operations"). These segments are discussed in Note 13, Segment Reporting.Basis of Presentation and ConsolidationThe accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of our manufacturing operations, majority-owned dealers ("Dealcors"), financial services operations, and VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary. The effects of transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated to arrive at the consolidated amounts.We prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in accordance with United States ("U.S.") generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for comprehensive annual financial statements.The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2011 and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures therein. In our opinion, these interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual operating results.Variable Interest EntitiesWe have an interest in several VIEs, primarily joint ventures, established to manufacture or distribute products and enhance our operational capabilities. We have determined for certain of our VIEs that we are the primary beneficiary because we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and have the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Accordingly, we include in our consolidated financial statements the assets and liabilities and results of operations of those entities, even though we may not own a majority voting interest. The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on our general assets; rather they represent claims against the specific assets of the consolidated entities. Assets of these entities are not available to satisfy claims against our general assets.We are the primary beneficiary of our Blue Diamond Parts ("BDP") and Blue Diamond Truck ("BDT") joint ventures with Ford Motor Company ("Ford"). As a result, our Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets of $227 million and $306 million and liabilities of $119 million and $158 million as of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively, from BDP and BDT, including $33 million and $38 million of cash and cash equivalents, at the respective dates, which are not readily available to satisfy our other obligations. The creditors of BDP and BDT do not have recourse to our general credit. In December 2011, Ford notified the Company of its intention to dissolve the BDT joint venture effective December 2014. We do not expect the dissolution of the BDT joint venture to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.Our Financial Services segment consolidates several VIEs. As a result, our Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets of $1.4 billion and $1.8 billion as of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively, and liabilities of $1.1 billion and $1.5 billion as of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively, all of which are involved in securitizations that are treated as borrowings. In addition, our Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets of $488 million and $468 million and related liabilities of $202 million and $216 million as of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively, all of which are involved in transactions that do not qualify for sale accounting treatment and are therefore treated as borrowings. Investors that hold securitization debt have a priority claim on the cash flows generated by their respective securitized assets to the extent that those trusts are entitled to make principal and interest payments. Investors in securitizations of these entities have no recourse to our general credit.We are also involved with other VIEs, which we do not consolidate because we are not the primary beneficiary. Our financial support and maximum loss exposure relating to these non-consolidated VIEs are not material to our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.We use the equity method to account for our investments in entities that we do not control under the voting interest or variable interest models, but where we have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates includes our share of the net income (loss) of these entities.Use of EstimatesThe preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but are not limited to, pension and other postretirement benefits, allowance for doubtful accounts, income tax contingency accruals and valuation allowances, product warranty accruals, asbestos and other product liability accruals, asset impairment, and litigation-related accruals. Actual results could differ from our estimates.Concentration RisksOur financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows are subject to concentration risks related to concentrations of union employees and one customer. As of April 30, 2012, approximately 5,400, or 52%, of our hourly workers and approximately 400, or 4%, of our salaried workers are represented by labor unions and are covered by collective bargaining agreements. For a discussion of customer concentration, see Note 13, Segment Reporting. Additionally, our future operations may be affected by changes in governmental procurement policies, budget considerations, changing national defense requirements, and global, political, regulatory and economic developments in the U.S. and certain foreign countries (primarily Canada, Mexico, and Brazil).Product Warranty LiabilityAccrued product warranty and deferred warranty revenue activity is as follows:  Six Months Ended April 30, 2012 2011(in millions)   Balance, at beginning of period$598 $506Costs accrued and revenues deferred236 175Adjustments to pre-existing warranties(A)227 36Payments and revenues recognized(217) (187)Balance, at end of period844 530Less: Current portion365 240Noncurrent accrued product warranty and deferred warranty revenue$479 $290_________________________(A)Adjustments to pre-existing warranties reflect changes in our estimate of warranty costs for products sold in prior periods. Such adjustments typically occur when claims experience deviates from historic and expected trends. Our warranty liability is generally affected by component failure rates, repair costs, and the timing of failures. Future events and circumstances related to these factors could materially change our estimates and require adjustments to our liability. In addition, new product launches require a greater use of judgment in developing estimates until historical experience becomes available. In the first quarter of 2012, we recorded adjustments for changes in estimates of $123 million, $119 million net of tax, or $1.70 per diluted share. In the second quarter of 2012, we recorded adjustments for changes in estimates of $104 million, $100 million net of tax, or $1.46 per diluted share. In the second quarter of 2011, we recorded adjustments for changes in estimates of $27 million, $24 million net of tax, or $0.31 per diluted share.The impact of income taxes on the adjustments reflect the Company's respective periods estimated annual effective tax rate as of April 30, 2012 and 2012, respectively.The amount of deferred revenue related to extended warranty programs was $308 million and $257 million at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively. Revenue recognized under our extended warranty programs was $16 million and $31 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2012, respectively, and $13 million and $25 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2011, respectively. In the second quarter of 2012, the Truck segment recognized a charge of $24 million, related to the extended warranty contracts on our 2010 emission standard MaxxForce Big-Bore engines. The majority of the change has been included in the adjustments to pre-existing warranties.Recently Adopted Accounting StandardsOn February 1, 2012, we adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on accounting and disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. The guidance limits the highest-and-best-use measure to non-financial assets, permits certain financial assets and liabilities with offsetting positions in market or counter-party credit risks to be measured on a net basis, and provides guidance on the applicability of premiums and discounts. Additionally, the guidance expands the disclosure requirements for hierarchy classification to items not presented at fair value on the balance sheet and disclosures on Level 3 inputs by requiring quantitative disclosure of the unobservable inputs and assumptions, as well as a description of the valuation processes and the sensitivity of the fair value to changes in unobservable inputs. Adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. We have complied with the disclosure requirements of the new guidance within Note 10, Fair Value Measurements.Recently Issued Accounting StandardsThere are no recently issued accounting standards for which the Company expects a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption. |

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The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.
+ References
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