| **Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Navistar International Corporation (Tables)**   | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Navistar International Corporation [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Schedule of Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Table Text Block]                            | The following table shows the information used in the calculation of our basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Navistar International Corporation as of October 31:(in millions, except per share data)2012 2011 2010Numerator:     Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation available to common stockholders$(3,010) $1,723 $223Denominator:     Weighted average shares outstanding:     Basic69.1 72.8 71.7Effect of dilutive securities— 3.3 1.5Diluted69.1 76.1 73.2Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Navistar International Corporation:     Basic$(43.56) $23.66 $3.11Diluted(43.56) 22.64 3.05 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**nav_EarningsLossPerShareAttributableToNavistarInternationalCorporationAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**nav_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the reconciliation of basic net earnings per share (or unit) to diluted earnings per share (or unit).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ScheduleOfEarningsPerShareReconciliationTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |