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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001421102-11-000024.txt : 20110120
<SEC-HEADER>0001421102-11-000024.hdr.sgml : 20110120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110120164146
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001421102-11-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110120
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110120

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARVINMERITOR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001113256
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				383354643
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2135 W MAPLE ROAD
		CITY:			TROY
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48084
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2484351000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MU SUB INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000501

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEVONSHIRE DAVID W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208316

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15983
		FILM NUMBER:		11539066

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1303 E ALGONQUIN RD
		CITY:			SCHAUMBURG
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60196
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001113256</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARVINMERITOR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208316</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEVONSHIRE DAVID W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ARVINMERITOR, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2135 WEST MAPLE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48084-7186</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3868</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24369</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Share Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquisition of restricted share units as equity compensation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">inapplicable</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes18,067 shares of Restricted Stock held by the issuer to implement restrictions on transfer unless and until certain conditions are met and 3,868 restricted share units, each of which represents the right to receive one share of common stock upon the vesting date, subject to terms and conditions.  Prior awards of restricted share units, which have different vesting provisions, have been reported in Table II.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Restricted share units vest and are paid or settled after the earliest of (1) six years from the date of award, (2) ten days after retirement from the Board after reaching age 72 and having at least 3 years of service as a director, and (3) the date of ceasing to be a director by reason of the antitrust laws, compliance with conflict of interest policies, death, disability or other circumstances that the Board deems not to be adverse to the best interests of ArvinMeritor.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Restricted share units converted on a one-to-one basis into common stock on the vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David W. Devonshire, By Barbara Novak, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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