Aggregate Funding Levels of Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Plans with fair value of plan assets in excess of obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation	$ 0	$ 15
Projected benefit obligation		15
Fair value of plan assets		16
Plans with obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,823	1,790
Projected benefit obligation	1,823	1,790
Fair value of plan assets	1,622	1,633
Foreign Pension Plan [Member]
Plans with fair value of plan assets in excess of obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation	14	14
Projected benefit obligation	14	15
Fair value of plan assets	16	22
Plans with obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligation	283	266
Projected benefit obligation	311	298
Fair value of plan assets	$ 28	$ 20

Name:	dan_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithPlanAssetsInExcessOfAccumulatedBenefitObligationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	dan_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate pension accumulated benefit obligation for pension plans with plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligations as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dan_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithPlanAssetsInExcessOfAccumulatedBenefitObligationsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	dan_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate fair value of plan assets for pension plans with plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligations as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dan_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithPlanAssetsInExcessOfAccumulatedBenefitObligationsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	dan_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate projected benefit obligation for pension plans with plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligations as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dan_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithPlanAssetsInExcessOfAccumulatedBenefitObligationsAggregateProjectedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	dan_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate pension accumulated benefit obligation for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 17

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34716465&loc=d3e4179-114921

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e2417-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate fair value of plan assets for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate projected benefit obligation for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateProjectedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: