| **Finance Receivables (Tables)**                                                   | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| **Receivables [Abstract]**                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]     | Our finance receivables by major classification are as follows:(in millions)2012 2011Retail portfolio$1,048 $1,613Wholesale portfolio1,128 1,334Total finance receivables2,176 2,947Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts27 34Total finance receivables, net2,149 2,913Less: Current portion, net(A)1,663 2,198Noncurrent portion, net$486 $715_________________________(A)The current portion of finance receivables is computed based on contractual maturities. Actual cash collections typically vary from the contractual cash flows because of prepayments, extensions, delinquencies, credit losses, and renewals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Schedule of Financing Receivables, Minimum Payments [Table Text Block]             | As of October 31, 2012, contractual maturities of our finance receivables are as follows: (in millions)Retail Portfolio Wholesale Portfolio TotalDue in:     2013$587 $1,128 $1,7152014260 — 2602015153 — 153201681 — 81201730 — 30Thereafter7 — 7Gross finance receivables1,118 1,128 2,246Unearned finance income(70) — (70)Total finance receivables$1,048 $1,128 $2,176                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Components Of Available Wholesale Note Trust Funding Facilities [Table Text Block] | We received net proceeds of $4.6 billion, $4.5 billion, and $1.5 billion from securitizations of finance receivables accounted for as secured borrowings in 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. Effective July 31, 2010, our Financial Services segment amended the wholesale trust agreement with the Navistar Financial Dealer Note Master Trust ("Master Trust"). The amendment disqualified the Master Trust as a QSPE and therefore required the Master Trust to be evaluated for consolidation as a VIE. As we are the primary beneficiary of the Master Trust, the Master Trust’s assets and liabilities are consolidated into the assets and liabilities of the Company. Components of available wholesale note trust funding facilities were as follows:(in millions)Maturity October 31, 2012 October 31, 2011Variable funding notesAugust 2013 $750 $500Investor notesOctober 2012 — 350Investor notesOctober 2013 224 —Investor notesJanuary 2012 — 250   Total wholesale note funding  $974 $1,100 |
| Finance Revenues Derived From Receivables [Table Text Block]                       | Finance revenues consist of the following:(in millions)2012 2011Retail notes and finance leases revenue$98 $137Wholesale notes interest87 93Operating lease revenue40 32Retail and wholesale accounts interest34 27Securitization income— 2Gross finance revenues259 291Less: Intercompany revenues91 91Finance revenues$168 $200                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |

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| - Definition
Components Of Available Wholesale Note Trust Funding Facilities [Table Text Block]
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Finance Revenues Derived From Receivables [Table Text Block]
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the various types of trade accounts and notes receivable and for each the gross carrying value, allowance, and net carrying value as of the balance sheet date. Presentation is categorized by current, noncurrent and unclassified receivables.
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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 210.5-02.3,4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3, 4 -Article 5
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Tabular disclosure of the annual minimum payments due from financing receivables, such as, but not limited to accounts, notes, loans, and other financing receivables.
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