| **Condensed consolidating guarantor and non-guarantor financial information (Tables)** | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
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| **Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]**       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations                                        |  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Six Months Ended April 30, 2011         Sales and revenues, net$— $3,831 $5,819 $(3,552) $6,098Costs of products sold— 3,553 4,846 (3,499) 4,900Restructuring charges— 23 1 — 24All other operating expenses (income)41 613 441 (53) 1,042Total costs and expenses41 4,189 5,288 (3,552) 5,966Equity in income (loss) of affiliates120 344 (20) (477) (33)Income (loss) before income taxes79 (14) 511 (477) 99Income tax benefit (expense)(11) 1 (52) 57 (5)Net income (loss)68 (13) 459 (420) 94Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest— — 26 — 26Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$68 $(13) $433 $(420) $68 NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2011         Sales and revenues, net$— $2,144 $3,238 $(2,027) $3,355Costs of products sold17 1,987 2,681 (1,984) 2,701Restructuring charges— 2 — — 2All other operating expenses (income)17 338 217 (29) 543Total costs and expenses34 2,327 2,898 (2,013) 3,246Equity in income (loss) of affiliates120 219 (10) (345) (16)Income (loss) before income taxes86 36 330 (359) 93Income tax benefit (expense)(12) (5) (36) 48 (5)Net income (loss)74 31 294 (311) 88Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest— — 14 — 14Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$74 $31 $280 $(311) $74 NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2012         Sales and revenues, net$— $2,172 $3,011 $(1,885) $3,298Costs of products sold— 2,205 2,599 (1,860) 2,944Restructuring charges— 19 1 — 20Impairment of intangible assets— — 38 — 38All other operating expenses14 357 241 (25) 587Total costs and expenses14 2,581 2,879 (1,885) 3,589Equity in income (loss) of affiliates(96) 271 (6) (173) (4)Income (loss) before income taxes(110) (138) 126 (173) (295)Income tax benefit (expense)(62) (63) 221 37 133Net income (loss)(172) (201) 347 (136) (162)Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests— — 10 — 10Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$(172) $(201) $337 $(136) $(172) NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Six Months Ended April 30, 2012         Sales and revenues, net$— $4,134 $5,835 $(3,619) $6,350Costs of products sold— 4,200 5,023 (3,581) 5,642Restructuring charges— 20 — — 20Impairment of intangible assets— — 38 — 38All other operating expenses39 690 477 (51) 1,155Total costs and expenses39 4,910 5,538 (3,632) 6,855Equity in income (loss) of affiliates(296) 366 (13) (68) (11)Income (loss) before income taxes(335) (410) 284 (55) (516)Income tax benefit10 14 187 3 214Net income (loss)(325) (396) 471 (52) (302)Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests— — 23 — 23Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$(325) $(396) $448 $(52) $(325) |
| Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]          |  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2012         Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$(172) $(201) $337 $(136) $(172)Other comprehensive income (loss):         Foreign currency translation adjustment(65) — (65) 65 (65)Defined benefit plans (net of tax of $12, $12, $–, $(12) and $12, respectively)17 16 2 (18) 17Total other comprehensive income (loss)(48) 16 (63) 47 (48)Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$(220) $(185) $274 $(89) $(220) NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2011         Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$74 $31 $280 $(311) $74Other comprehensive income (loss):         Foreign currency translation adjustment46 — 46 (46) 46Defined benefit plans (net of tax of $– for all subsidiaries presented)16 12 4 (16) 16Total other comprehensive income (loss)62 12 50 (62) 62Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$136 $43 $330 $(373) $136 NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Six Months Ended April 30, 2012         Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$(325) $(396) $448 $(52) $(325)Other comprehensive income (loss):         Foreign currency translation adjustment(78) — (78) 78 (78)Defined benefit plans (net of tax of $24, $23, $1, $(24) and $24, respectively)40 36 5 (41) 40Total other comprehensive income (loss)(38) 36 (73) 37 (38)Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$(363) $(360) $375 $(15) $(363) NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Six Months Ended April 30, 2011         Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$68 $(13) $433 $(420) $68Other comprehensive income (loss):         Foreign currency translation adjustment61 — 61 (61) 61Defined benefit plans (net of tax of $– for all subsidiaries presented)79 70 (15) (55) 79Total other comprehensive income (loss)140 70 46 (116) 140Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation$208 $57 $479 $(536) $208                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet                                                  |  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of April 30, 2012         Assets         Cash and cash equivalents$112 $48 $240 $— $400Marketable securities55 — 282 — 337Restricted cash and cash equivalents13 8 124 — 145Finance and other receivables, net5 139 3,453 2 3,599Inventories— 761 1,240 (53) 1,948Investments in non-consolidated affiliates(2,459) 6,286 51 (3,820) 58Property and equipment, net— 739 953 (2) 1,690Goodwill— — 295 — 295Deferred taxes, net44 1,887 306 1 2,238Other115 167 394 (2) 674Total assets$(2,115) $10,035 $7,338 $(3,874) $11,384Liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)         Debt$1,604 $295 $2,832 $(234) $4,497Postretirement benefits liabilities— 2,893 321 — 3,214Amounts due to (from) affiliates(5,996) 9,753 (3,837) 80 —Other liabilities2,727 (49) 1,537 (135) 4,080Total liabilities(1,665) 12,892 853 (289) 11,791Redeemable equity securities5 — — — 5Stockholders’ equity attributable to non-controlling interests— — 43 — 43Stockholders’ equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation(455) (2,857) 6,442 (3,585) (455)Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)$(2,115) $10,035 $7,338 $(3,874) $11,384 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 $— $539Marketable securities429 1 288 — 718Restricted cash and cash equivalents20 9 298 — 327Finance and other receivables, net3 154 4,070 27 4,254Inventories— 650 1,113 (49) 1,714Investments in non-consolidated affiliates(2,094) 5,818 54 (3,718) 60Property and equipment, net— 600 972 (2) 1,570Goodwill— — 319 — 319Deferred taxes, net31 1,912 114 — 2,057Other168 152 416 (3) 733Total assets$(1,217) $9,309 $7,944 $(3,745) $12,291Liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)         Debt$1,689 $156 $3,242 $(231) $4,856Postretirement benefits liabilities— 2,981 335 — 3,316Amounts due to (from) affiliates(5,574) 9,055 (3,595) 114 —Other liabilities2,690 (194) 1,717 (122) 4,091Total liabilities(1,195) 11,998 1,699 (239) 12,263Redeemable equity securities5 — — — 5Stockholders’ equity (deficit) attributable to non-controlling interest— — 52 (2) 50Stockholders’ equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation(27) (2,689) 6,193 (3,504) (27)Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)$(1,217) $9,309 $7,944 $(3,745) $12,291                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows                                        |  NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended April 30, 2012         Net cash provided by (used in) operations$(463) $(267) $248 $531 $49Cash flows from investment activities         Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents6 2 174 — 182Net sales of marketable securities374 — 7 — 381Capital expenditures and purchase of equipment leased to others— (115) (89) — (204)Other investing activities— (104) 70 — (34)Net cash provided by (used in) investment activities380 (217) 162 — 325Cash flows from financing activities         Net borrowings (repayments) of debt(50) 519 (429) (440) (400)Other financing activities19 — (38) (91) (110)Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(31) 519 (467) (531) (510)Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents— — (3) — (3)Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(114) 35 (60) — (139)Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period226 13 300 — 539Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period$112 $48 $240 $— $400 NIC Navistar,Inc. Non-GuarantorSubsidiaries Eliminationsand Other Consolidated(in millions)         Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended April 30, 2011         Net cash provided by (used in) operations$(84) $61 $142 $107 $226Cash flows from investment activities         Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents— — (8) — (8)Net purchases in marketable securities(34) — (118) — (152)Capital expenditures and purchase of equipment leased to others— (104) (104) — (208)Other investing activities— (20) 14 — (6)Net cash used in investment activities(34) (124) (216) — (374)Cash flows from financing activities         Net borrowings (repayments) of debt27 62 (36) (107) (54)Other financing activities28 — (32) — (4)Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities55 62 (68) (107) (58)Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents— (1) 12 — 11Decrease in cash and cash equivalents(63) (2) (130) — (195)Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period239 22 324 — 585Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period$176 $20 $194 $— $390                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |

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