| **Finance Receivables**    | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                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| **Receivables [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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| Finance Receivables        | Finance ReceivablesA summary of finance receivables included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position was as follows:(Millions of dollars) September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Retail $13,766 $13,728Retail notes receivable 10,492 10,616Wholesale notes receivable 3,365 3,887Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Wholesale 155 289  27,778 28,520Less: Unearned income (776) (794)Recorded investment in finance receivables 27,002 27,726Less: Allowance for credit losses (346) (338)Total finance receivables, net $26,656$27,388     Allowance for Credit Losses The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of the losses inherent in our finance receivable portfolio and includes consideration of accounts that have been individually identified as impaired, as well as pools of finance receivables where it is probable that certain receivables in the pool are impaired but the individual accounts cannot yet be identified.   In identifying and measuring impairment, management takes into consideration past loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of underlying collateral and current economic conditions.  Accounts are identified for individual review based on past-due status and information available about the customer, such as financial statements, news reports and published credit ratings, as well as general information regarding industry trends and the economic environment in which our customers operate.  The allowance for credit losses attributable to finance receivables that are individually evaluated and determined to be impaired is based either on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the receivables' effective interest rate or the fair value of the collateral for collateral-dependent receivables.  In determining collateral value, we estimate the current fair market value of the collateral less selling costs.  We also consider credit enhancements such as additional collateral and contractual third-party guarantees. The allowance for credit losses attributable to the remaining accounts not yet individually identified as impaired is estimated based on loss forecast models utilizing probabilities of default, our estimate of the loss emergence period and the estimated loss given default.  In addition, qualitative factors not able to be fully captured in our loss forecast models including industry trends, macroeconomic factors and model imprecision are considered in the evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses.  These qualitative factors are subjective and require a degree of management judgment. Our allowance for credit losses is segregated into three portfolio segments: •Customer - Finance receivables with retail customers.•Dealer - Finance receivables with Caterpillar dealers.•Caterpillar Purchased Receivables - Trade receivables purchased from Caterpillar entities.A portfolio segment is the level at which the Company develops a systematic methodology for determining its allowance for credit losses.We further evaluate our portfolio segments by the class of finance receivables, which is defined as a level of information (below a portfolio segment) in which the finance receivables have the same initial measurement attribute and a similar method for assessing and monitoring credit risk.  Typically, our finance receivables within a geographic area have similar credit risk profiles and methods for assessing and monitoring credit risk.  Our classes, which align with management reporting for credit losses, are as follows:•North America - Includes finance receivables originated in the United States or Canada.•Europe - Includes finance receivables originated in Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States.•Asia/Pacific - Includes finance receivables originated in Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.•Mining - Includes finance receivables related to large mining customers worldwide and project financing in various countries.•Latin America - Includes finance receivables originated in Central and South American countries.•Caterpillar Power Finance - Includes finance receivables related to marine vessels with Caterpillar engines worldwide and Caterpillar electrical power generation, gas compression and co-generation systems and non-Caterpillar equipment that is powered by these systems worldwide.Our allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2016 was $346 million or 1.28 percent of net finance receivables compared with $338 million or 1.22 percent as of December 31, 2015.  An analysis of the allowance for credit losses was as follows:(Millions of dollars)        September 30, 2016Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$327 $9 $2 $338Receivables written off(118) — — (118)Recoveries on receivables previously written off25 — — 25Provision for credit losses93 2 — 95Adjustment due to sale of receivables(1) — — (1)Foreign currency translation adjustment7 — — 7Balance at end of period$333 $11 $2 $346        Individually evaluated for impairment$85 $— $— $85Collectively evaluated for impairment248 11 2 261Ending Balance$333 $11 $2 $346        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$819 $— $— $819Collectively evaluated for impairment19,155 4,795 2,233 26,183Ending Balance$19,974 $4,795 $2,233 $27,002        (Millions of dollars)        December 31, 2015Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$388 $10 $3 $401Receivables written off(196) — — (196)Recoveries on receivables previously written off41 — — 41Provision for credit losses119 (1) (1) 117Adjustment due to sale of receivables(2) — — (2)Foreign currency translation adjustment(23) — — (23)Balance at end of year$327 $9 $2 $338        Individually evaluated for impairment$65 $— $— $65Collectively evaluated for impairment262 9 2 273Ending Balance$327 $9 $2 $338        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$601 $— $— $601Collectively evaluated for impairment19,431 5,093 2,601 27,125Ending Balance$20,032 $5,093 $2,601 $27,726        Credit quality of finance receivablesAt origination, we evaluate credit risk based on a variety of credit quality factors including prior payment experience, customer financial information, credit-rating agency ratings, loan-to-value ratios and other internal metrics. On an ongoing basis, we monitor credit quality based on past-due status and collection experience as there is a meaningful correlation between the past-due status of customers and the risk of loss. In determining past-due status, we consider the entire finance receivable balance past due when any installment is over 30 days past due.  The tables below summarize our recorded investment of finance receivables by aging category.(Millions of dollars)              September 30, 2016 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current RecordedInvestment inFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$66 $18 $72 $156 $7,983 $8,139 $10Europe21 16 83 120 2,424 2,544 47Asia/Pacific30 10 20 60 2,057 2,117 4Mining4 1 63 68 1,802 1,870 —Latin America57 39 222 318 1,866 2,184 —Caterpillar Power Finance1 5 72 78 3,042 3,120 12Dealer             North America— — — — 2,971 2,971 —Europe— — — — 337 337 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 659 659 —Mining— — — — 7 7 —Latin America— — — — 819 819 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 2 2 —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables             North America9 4 2 15 1,292 1,307 2Europe1 — 1 2 273 275 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 348 348 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 300 300 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 3 3 —Total$189 $93 $535 $817 $26,185 $27,002 $75               (Millions of dollars)              December 31, 2015 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current RecordedInvestment inFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$45 $12 $30 $87 $8,031 $8,118 $4Europe18 7 44 69 2,358 2,427 9Asia/Pacific22 12 21 55 2,108 2,163 6Mining6 1 68 75 1,793 1,868 1Latin America45 31 199 275 1,998 2,273 —Caterpillar Power Finance— 1 35 36 3,147 3,183 2Dealer             North America— — — — 3,387 3,387 —Europe— — — — 330 330 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 611 611 —Mining— — — — 4 4 —Latin America— — — — 758 758 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 3 3 —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables             North America16 5 1 22 1,386 1,408 1Europe4 — 4 8 307 315 3Asia/Pacific— — — — 407 407 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 454 454 —Caterpillar Power Finance— 1 — 1 16 17 —Total$156 $70 $402 $628 $27,098 $27,726 $26              Impaired finance receivablesFor all classes, a finance receivable is considered impaired, based on current information and events, if it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms.  Impaired finance receivables include finance receivables that have been restructured and are considered to be Troubled Debt Restructures.There were no impaired finance receivables as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, for the Dealer and Caterpillar Purchased Receivables portfolio segments.  Our recorded investment in impaired finance receivables and the related unpaid principal balances and allowance for the Customer portfolio segment were as follows:(Millions of dollars)            As of September 30, 2016 As of December 31, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables WithNo Allowance RecordedRecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowance RecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowanceNorth America$21 $21 $— $12 $12 $—Europe49 48 — 41 41 —Asia/Pacific2 2 — 1 1 —Mining119 118 — 84 84 —Latin America73 73 — 28 28 —Caterpillar Power Finance290 289 — 242 241 —Total$554 $551 $— $408 $407 $—Impaired Finance Receivables WithAn Allowance Recorded           North America$50 $48 $19 $14 $13 $4Europe9 9 5 11 10 5Asia/Pacific33 33 5 34 34 4Mining38 38 6 11 11 3Latin America91 103 33 53 53 21Caterpillar Power Finance44 44 17 70 70 28Total$265 $275 $85 $193 $191 $65Total Impaired Finance Receivables           North America$71 $69 $19 $26 $25 $4Europe58 57 5 52 51 5Asia/Pacific35 35 5 35 35 4Mining157 156 6 95 95 3Latin America164 176 33 81 81 21Caterpillar Power Finance334 333 17 312 311 28Total$819 $826 $85 $601 $598 $65             (Millions of dollars)        Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables With No Allowance RecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedNorth America$24 $— $10 $1Europe49 1 43 —Asia/Pacific1 — 1 —Mining90 2 63 —Latin America58 — 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance282 3 165 1Total$504 $6 $314 $2Impaired Finance Receivables With An Allowance Recorded       North America$42 $— $10 $—Europe10 — 15 —Asia/Pacific35 — 63 —Mining19 — 9 —Latin America67 1 69 1Caterpillar Power Finance43 — 125 2Total$216 $1 $291 $3Total Impaired Finance Receivables       North America$66 $— $20 $1Europe59 1 58 —Asia/Pacific36 — 64 —Mining109 2 72 —Latin America125 1 101 1Caterpillar Power Finance325 3 290 3Total$720 $7 $605 $5        (Millions of dollars)        Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables With No Allowance RecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedNorth America$19 $1 $12 $1Europe45 1 43 —Asia/Pacific2 — 2 —Mining84 3 80 3Latin America39 — 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance269 8 157 3Total$458 $13 $326 $7Impaired Finance Receivables With An Allowance Recorded       North America$28 $— $7 $—Europe11 — 15 1Asia/Pacific34 2 42 1Mining15 — 47 1Latin America59 2 56 2Caterpillar Power Finance50 1 128 3Total$197 $5 $295 $8Total Impaired Finance Receivables       North America$47 $1 $19 $1Europe56 1 58 1Asia/Pacific36 2 44 1Mining99 3 127 4Latin America98 2 88 2Caterpillar Power Finance319 9 285 6Total$655 $18 $621 $15        Recognition of income is suspended and the finance receivable is placed on non-accrual status when management determines that collection of future income is not probable (generally after 120 days past due).  Recognition is resumed and previously suspended income is recognized when the finance receivable becomes current and collection of remaining amounts is considered probable.  Payments received while the finance receivable is on non-accrual status are applied to interest and principal in accordance with the contractual terms.As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were no finance receivables on non-accrual status for the Dealer portfolio segment.  As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there was $1 million in finance receivables on non-accrual status for the Caterpillar Purchased Receivables portfolio segment, all of which was in the Europe finance receivable class.  The recorded investment in Customer finance receivables on non-accrual status was as follows: (Millions of dollars)    September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015North America$71 $31Europe38 39Asia/Pacific16 15Mining131 106Latin America299 217Caterpillar Power Finance69 77Total$624 $485    Troubled debt restructuringsA restructuring of a finance receivable constitutes a troubled debt restructuring (TDR) when the lender grants a concession it would not otherwise consider to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties. Concessions granted may include extended contract maturities, inclusion of interest only periods, below market interest rates, extended skip payment periods and reduction of principal and/or accrued interest.  As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were $11 million and $3 million, respectively, of additional funds committed to lend to a borrower whose terms have been modified in a TDR.There were no finance receivables modified as TDRs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 for the Dealer or Caterpillar Purchased Receivables portfolio segments.  Finance receivables in the Customer portfolio segment modified as TDRs were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded InvestmentNorth America2 $— $— 6 $— $—Europe— — — 4 — —Asia/Pacific4 1 1 1 1 1Mining1 33 30 2 15 14Latin America(1)341 105 74 10 1 2Caterpillar Power Finance4 13 13 8 93 79Total352 $152 $118 31 $110 $96             Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded InvestmentNorth America15 $16 $16 10 $1 $1Europe3 11 8 23 2 2Asia/Pacific8 4 4 21 26 26Mining2 43 35 2 15 14Latin America431 117 87 10 1 2Caterpillar Power Finance34 196 177 12 197 180Total493 $387 $327 78 $242 $225            (1) In Latin America, 321 contracts with a pre-TDR recorded investment of $94 million and a post-TDR recorded investment of $64 million are related to four customers.TDRs in the Customer portfolio segment with a payment default during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date, were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentNorth America1 $— 5 $—Europe1 — — —Latin America2 — — —Total4 $— 5 $—         Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentNorth America14 $3 10 $1Europe14 1 — —Asia/Pacific3 — — —Latin America4 — 1 —Total35 $4 11 $1         |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for financing receivables. Examples of financing receivables include, but are not limited to, loans, trade accounts receivables, notes receivable, credit cards, and receivables relating to a lessor's right(s) to payment(s) from a lease other than an operating lease that is recognized as assets.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=32702940&loc=SL6953791-111525Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66008989&loc=d3e4975-111524
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| - References
No definition available.
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