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
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Period Type:	duration

Acquisitions and Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 SIFCO Year	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd.	Jun. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd.	Sep. 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.	Sep. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Amortizable Intangible Assets	Sep. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Property, plant and equipment	Sep. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Inventory	Sep. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. goodwill	Sep. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Deferred Income Tax Liabilities	Sep. 30, 2011 Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. Maximum	Jun. 30, 2011 Axles India Limited	Sep. 30, 2011 Equity Method Investments	Sep. 30, 2011 Equity Method Investments GETRAG Corporation	Sep. 30, 2011 Equity Method Investments Getrag Dana Holding GmbH	Sep. 30, 2011 Equity Method Investments GETRAG entities
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payment to acquire distribution rights						$ 150
Revenue of acquiree included in results of operations						291
Pre tax income of acquiree included in results of operations						12
Aggregate fair value of assets acquired						150
Business acquisition purchase price allocation assets acquired liabilities assumed, net																			13
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, accounts receivable																			1
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, inventories																			3
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, equipment																			4
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, intangible assets						145													10
Purchase price allocated to fixed assets						25
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, accounts payable																			5
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 years
Percentage of ownership interest acquired							46.00%	46.00%				4.00%
Payments to acquire interest in equity affiliate			124				124
Transaction costs							3	3
Selling price reduction agreement term (years)																		4 years
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
Percentage of ownership interest							50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Retroactive adjustment of Dana's equity in earnings of affiliates								1		1	1
Additional investment recorded at fair value									132
Allocation of fair value increase on additional investment									67				18	16	1	39	7
Purchase price for business acquisition																			13
Expected annual sales																			50
Percentage of divestitures equity interest																					49.00%	42.00%
Proceeds from sale of interest in equity affiliates			136																				136
Purchase agreements dated																							Jul. 21, 2011
Gain from sale equity interest included in other income	60		60																	60
Remaining proceeds receivable from divestiture of Structural Products business					30
Earn-out provision of Structural Products business divestiture					15
Receivable from divestiture of Structural Products business, held in escrow	11		11		8
Receivable from divestiture of Structural Products business, deferred proceeds		5			5
Cash proceeds from divestiture of Structural Products business		15	15	113
Sales of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business					59
Asset impairment for sales of business based on our current estimate of the expected sales price	5		5
Assets of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business	18		18
Property, plant and equipment of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business	4		4
Liabilities of divestiture of axle, differential and brake systems business	$ 7		$ 7