Segment Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 289	$ 365
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,528	922
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(13)	(7)
Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	7	25
Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(115)	(159)
Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(38)	32
Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(752)	(161)
Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(68)	(3)
Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	41	55
Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(49)	(101)
Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(130)	(135)
Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(39)	(40)
Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(55)	(56)
Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(28)	(7)
Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,515	915
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,345	754
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	105	198
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,345	754
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(13)	(7)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	7	25
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(115)	(159)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(38)	32
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(751)	(159)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(68)	(3)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	41	55
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(47)	(97)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(130)	(135)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(39)	(40)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(55)	(56)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(32)	(12)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	184	167
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	183	168
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(1)	(2)
Financial Products | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(2)	(4)
Financial Products | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 4	$ 5