Segment Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 1,523	$ 383	$ 2,971	$ 1,487
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,045	1,004	5,462	3,117
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	6	(22)	(27)	(43)
Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	17	29	13	68
Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(158)	(121)	(447)	(429)
Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(21)	12	(128)	53
Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(90)	(324)	(1,011)	(624)
Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(4)	19	(80)	0
Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	32	37	111	148
Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(48)	(41)	(165)	(187)
Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(116)	(129)	(369)	(396)
Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(37)	(10)	(195)	(22)
Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(71)	(60)	(105)	(170)
Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(32)	(11)	(88)	(28)
Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,051	982	5,435	3,074
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,860	821	4,903	2,564
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,342	202	2,418	940
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,860	821	4,903	2,564
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	6	(22)	(27)	(43)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	17	29	13	68
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(158)	(121)	(447)	(429)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(21)	12	(128)	53
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(89)	(323)	(1,009)	(619)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(4)	19	(80)	0
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	32	37	111	148
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(46)	(40)	(158)	(180)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(116)	(129)	(369)	(396)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(37)	(10)	(195)	(22)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(71)	(60)	(105)	(170)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(31)	(11)	(91)	(34)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	181	181	553	547
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	185	183	559	553
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(1)	(1)	(2)	(5)
Financial Products | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(2)	(1)	(7)	(7)
Financial Products | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ (1)	$ 0	$ 3	$ 6