Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Guarantee obligations [Table Text Block]

The maximum potential payments under guarantees and the carrying value of recorded liabilities related to guarantees at December 31 were as follows (in millions):



	2011		2010
Maximum potential payments	$	444	$	500
Carrying value of recorded liabilities related to guarantees	31		43

Warranty [Table Text Block]

Included in warranty cost accruals are the costs for basic warranty coverages and product recalls on products sold. These costs are estimates based primarily on historical warranty claim experience. Warranty accruals accounted for in Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue were as follows (in millions):



	2011			2010
Beginning balance	$	3,855		$	4,204
Payments made during the period	(2,799		)	(2,475		)
Changes in accrual related to warranties issued during the period	2,215			1,801
Changes in accrual related to pre-existing warranties	690			387
Foreign currency translation and other	(46		)	(62		)
Ending balance	$	3,915		$	3,855

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of each guarantee obligation, or each group of similar guarantee obligations, including (a) the nature of the guarantee, including its term, how it arose, and the events or circumstances that would require the guarantor to perform under the guarantee; (b) the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee; (c) the current carrying amount of the liability, if any, for the guarantor's obligations under the guarantee; and (d) the nature of any recourse provisions under the guarantee, and any assets held either as collateral or by third parties, and any relevant related party disclosure. Excludes disclosures about product warranties.

+ References+ Details