Note 19 - Equity Affiliates - Equity Method Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments in equity affiliates	$ 172,000			$ 172,000
Investments in affiliates carried at cost	2,000			2,000
Investments in affiliates	174,000			174,000		$ 182,000
Earnings before income taxes	54,000		$ 109,000	(73,000)	$ 98,000
Net income	45,000	$ 38,000	112,000	(90,000)	147,000
Dana's equity in earnings of affiliate	$ 7,000		8,000	$ 17,000	22,000
Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. (DDAC) [Member]
Investments in equity affiliates, ownership percentage	50.00%			50.00%
Investments in equity affiliates	$ 94,000			$ 94,000
Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd. (DDAC) [Member] | Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees [Member]
Sales	236		178	691	616
Gross profit	27		22	91	66
Earnings before income taxes	13		9	35	29
Net income	11		9	29	30
Dana's equity in earnings of affiliate	$ 6		$ 4	$ 14	$ 14
Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, LLC [Member]
Investments in equity affiliates, ownership percentage	20.00%			20.00%
Investments in equity affiliates	$ 56,000			$ 56,000
Axles India Limited [Member]
Investments in equity affiliates, ownership percentage	48.00%			48.00%
Investments in equity affiliates	$ 8,000			$ 8,000
All Others as a Group [Member]
Investments in equity affiliates	$ 14,000			$ 14,000