Guarantees and Product Warranty (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Guarantees and Product Warranty
Related liability	$ 7	$ 10
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	345	420
Financial Special-Purpose Company's assets in Consolidated Statement of Financial Position	579	365
Financial Special-Purpose Company's liabilities in Consolidated Statement of Financial Position	579	365
Guarantees with Caterpillar dealers
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	149	185
Guarantees with customers
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	155	170
Limited indemnity
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	12	17
Guarantees - other
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	$ 29	$ 48

The carrying amount of the consolidated Financial Special-Purpose Company Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Financial Special-Purpose Company Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ Details

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- Definition

The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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- 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.

+ Details

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- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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