| **Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions**                                                                                  | Apr. 30, 2016 | Oct. 31, 2015 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations                                                                                                               | $ 3,974       | $ 4,188       |
| Financial Services Operations [Member]                                                                                                                     |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities                                                                                 | 2,074         | 2,100         |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current                                                                                                      | 1,168         | 1,007         |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations                                                                                                               | 906           | 1,093         |
| Financial Services Operations [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]                                                                                             |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | 933           | 870           |
| Financial Services Operations [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]                                                                                           |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | 947           | 1,063         |
| Financial Services Operations [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]                                                                                         |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | 88            | 86            |
| Financial Services Operations [Member] | Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]                                                       |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | 106           | 81            |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member]                                                                                                                          |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities                                                                                 | 3,151         | 3,198         |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current                                                                                                      | 83            | 103           |
| Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations                                                                                                               | 3,068         | 3,095         |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]                                                                                                |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount                                                                                                                      | 15            | 17            |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | 1,022         | 1,023         |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Notes Payable to Banks [Member] | Eight Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes [Member]                                   |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount                                                                                                                      | $ 17          | 18            |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                                                                                          | 8.25%         |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | $ 1,183       | 1,182         |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]           |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount                                                                                                                      | $ 12          | 14            |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                                                                                          | 4.50%         |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | $ 188         | 186           |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount                                                                                                                      | $ 28          | 32            |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                                                                                          | 4.75%         |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | $ 383         | 379           |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Debt Of Majority Owned Dealerships [Member]                                                                            |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | 13            | 28            |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Financing Arrangements and Capital Lease Obligations [Member]                                                          |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | $ 46          | 49            |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Tax Exempt Bond [Member]                                                                                               |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                                                                                          | 6.50%         |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | $ 225         | 225           |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Financed lease obligations [Member]                                                                                    |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | 75            | 111           |
| Manufacturing Operations [Member] | Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]                                                                                 |          |          |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                                           |          |          |
| Long-term Debt                                                                                                                                             | $ 16          | $ 15          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.
+ 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 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28541-108399Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878Reference 3: 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(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebt**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.
+ 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(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt and capital leases due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.
+ 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 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligations including current maturities.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=nav_FinancialServicesOperationsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nav_BorrowingsSecuredByOperatingAndFinanceLeasesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=nav_ManufacturingOperationsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nav_EightPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleSubordinatedDebtMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nav_FourPointFiveZeroSeniorSubordinatedConvertibleNotesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nav_FourPointSevenFiveSeniorSubordinatedConvertibleNotesMemberMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nav_DebtOfMajorityOwnedDealershipsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                              |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nav_FinancingArrangementsAndCapitalLeaseObligationsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nav_TaxExemptBondMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nav_FinancedLeaseObligationsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_NotesPayableOtherPayablesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |