| **Debt**                       | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
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| **Debt Disclosure [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Debt                           | Debt April 30, 2012 October 31, 2011(in millions)   Manufacturing operations   8.25% Senior Notes, due 2021, net of unamortized discount of $29 and $33, respectively$871 $9673.0% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes, due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $62 and $73, respectively508 497Debt of majority-owned dealerships84 94Financing arrangements and capital lease obligations155 118Loan Agreement related to 6.5% Tax Exempt Bonds, due 2040225 225Promissory Note36 40Asset-Based Credit Facility100 —Other49 39Total manufacturing operations debt2,028 1,980Less: Current portion230 99Net long-term manufacturing operations debt$1,798 $1,881Financial Services operations   Asset-backed debt issued by consolidated SPEs, at variable rates, due serially through 2018$1,284 $1,664Bank revolvers, at fixed and variable rates, due dates from 2013 through 20171,060 1,072Commercial paper, at variable rates, due serially through 201259 70Borrowings secured by operating and finance leases, at various rates, due serially through 201766 70Total financial services operations debt2,469 2,876Less: Current portion1,279 1,280Net long-term financial services operations debt$1,190 $1,596Manufacturing OperationsOur 8.25% Senior Notes, due in 2021 (the "Senior Notes") contain an optional redemption feature allowing the Company not more than once during each twelve-month period ending on November 1, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, to redeem up to $50 million in principal amount of the Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The Company exercised this early redemption feature for a total principal amount of $100 million, by redeeming $50 million of Senior Notes on November 1, 2011 and an additional $50 million of Senior Notes on November 2, 2011. During the six months ended April 30, 2012, the Company recorded $8 million of charges, relating to the early redemption premium and write-off of related discount and debt issuance costs.In January 2012, the Company began leasing an existing manufacturing facility in Cherokee, Alabama and purchased certain machinery and equipment within that facility. In relation to the machinery and equipment, the Company entered into a $40 million promissory note with the lessor. This amount is payable in monthly installments over a ten-year term, in conjunction with the lease of the facility. The Company recorded the machinery and equipment, and the associated liability, at the relative fair value of $58 million. Accordingly, this arrangement is included within our financing arrangements and capital lease obligations.In October 2011, Navistar, Inc. and various other U.S. subsidiaries signed a definitive loan agreement relating to a five-year inventory secured, asset-based revolving senior line of credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $355 million (the "Asset-Based Credit Facility"). In November 2011, we borrowed $100 million under the Asset-Based Credit Facility. In June 2012, the Company borrowed an additional $138 million under the Asset-Based Credit Facility.Financial Services OperationsIn May 2012, NFC issued $372 million of asset-backed securities due April 2013 (the "Asset-Backed Securities due April 2013"), and the proceeds were used to repurchase existing asset-backed securities, which are reflected in Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company intends to refinance the Asset-Backed Securities due April 2013 with a long-term securitization facility during the second half of 2012.In December 2011, NFC refinanced its bank credit facility dated December 2009, as amended, with a five-year $840 million facility consisting of a $340 million term loan and a $500 million revolving line of credit. The new facility is subject to customary operational and financial covenants. Quarterly principal payments on the term portion are $4 million for the first eight quarters and $9 million for the next eleven quarters, with the balance due at maturity. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644
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