Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans - Aggregate Funding Levels of Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Details) - Pension Plan [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
UNITED STATES
Plans with fair value of plan assets in excess of obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation	$ 14	$ 16
Projected benefit obligation	14	16
Fair value of plan assets	15	16
Plans with obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,487	1,714
Projected benefit obligation	1,487	1,714
Fair value of plan assets	1,286	1,497
Foreign Plan [Member]
Plans with fair value of plan assets in excess of obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation	15	15
Projected benefit obligation	16	15
Fair value of plan assets	19	18
Plans with obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligation	322	334
Projected benefit obligation	348	362
Fair value of plan assets	$ 52	$ 53

Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plans with Plan Assets in Excess of Accumulated Benefit Obligations [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	dan_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithPlanAssetsInExcessOfAccumulatedBenefitObligationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	dan_
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 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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit plan with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108410482&loc=d3e2417-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108410482&loc=d3e2417-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of plan asset for defined benefit plan with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108410482&loc=d3e2417-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108410482&loc=d3e2417-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of projected benefit obligation for defined benefit pension plan with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108410482&loc=d3e2417-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=112275985&loc=d3e4179-114921

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: