This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the undistributed net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. Such amount typically reflects adjustments similar to those made in preparing consolidated statements, including adjustments to eliminate intercompany gains and losses, and to amortize, if appropriate, any difference between cost and underlying equity in net assets of the investee at the date of investment.

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Namespace Prefix:	dan
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Acquisitions and Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 SIFCO Year	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Year	Dec. 31, 2010 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd.	Dec. 31, 2009 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd.	Jun. 30, 2007 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd.	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Maximum Year	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Property	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Amortizable Intangible Assets	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Inventory	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. goodwill	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	Jun. 30, 2011 Axles India Limited
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price for business acquisition																$ 13
Payment to acquire distribution rights					150
Expected annual sales					350											50
Aggregate fair value of assets acquired					150
Business acquisition purchase price allocation assets acquired liabilities assumed, net																13
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, inventories																3
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, equipment																5
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, intangible assets					145											8
Purchase price allocated to fixed assets					25
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, accounts payable																3
Purchase price allocated to embedded lease obligations					20
Expected life of amortizable intangible assets					10
Fixed assets, useful life					10
Embedded lease obligations, useful life					10
Revenue of acquiree included in results of operations					173
Pre tax income of acquiree included in results of operations					8
Percentage of ownership interest acquired						46.00%			4.00%
Payments to acquire interest in equity affiliate		124				124
Transaction costs						3
Maximum amount Dana's share of DDAC's earnings that could be reduced due to price reduction agreement						20
Contingent consideration recorded at fair value as a liability						5
Remaining useful lives of property, minimum						10
Remaining useful lives of property, maximum						45
Remaining useful lives of intangible assets, minimum						4
Remaining useful lives of intangible assets, maximum						15
Selling price reduction agreement term (years)										4
Additional investment recorded at fair value						132
Allocation of fair value increase on additional investment						72					21	12	1	60	22
Percentage of ownership interest						50.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Retroactive adjustment of Dana's equity in earnings of affiliates						1	1	1
Remaining proceeds receivable from divestiture of Structural Products business				30
Earn-out provision of Structural Products business divestiture		15		15
Receivable from divestiture of Structural Products business, held in escrow				8
Receivable from divestiture of Structural Products business, deferred proceeds				5
Cash proceeds from divestiture of Structural Products business	15	15	113
Sales of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business				59
Assets of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business		20
Property, plant and equipment of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business		8
Liabilities of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business		$ 10