Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 15,244,000,000	$ 21,318,000,000	$ 17,148,000,000	$ 14,805,000,000
Other receivables, net	9,904,000,000		8,565,000,000
Inventories	7,031,000,000		5,901,000,000
Net property	23,150,000,000		22,371,000,000
Other assets	4,994,000,000		4,770,000,000
Total assets	182,075,000,000	167,391,000,000	178,348,000,000
Payables	19,638,000,000		17,724,000,000
Total liabilities	165,425,000,000		163,277,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Interest expense	1,011,000,000	1,174,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,901,000,000		3,402,000,000
Other assets	113,000,000		157,000,000
Automotive [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	7,261,000,000	12,544,000,000	7,965,000,000	6,301,000,000
Inventories	7,031,000,000		5,901,000,000
Net property	23,011,000,000		22,229,000,000
Total assets	81,648,000,000	67,551,000,000	78,786,000,000
Total liabilities	73,660,000,000		72,051,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Interest expense	185,000,000	251,000,000
Automotive [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Total maximum exposure	249,000,000		235,000,000
Total change in maximum exposure	14,000,000
Automotive [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Zeledyne LLC [Member]
Not Primary Beneficiary Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Carrying value of obligation in VIE	6,000,000
Automotive [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Investments [Member]
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Total maximum exposure	243,000,000		229,000,000
Total change in maximum exposure	14,000,000
Automotive [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Guarantees [Member]
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Total maximum exposure	6,000,000		6,000,000
Total change in maximum exposure	0
Financial Services [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	7,983,000,000	8,774,000,000	9,183,000,000	8,504,000,000
Other assets	3,528,000,000		3,605,000,000
Total assets	102,864,000,000	103,170,000,000	101,574,000,000
Payables	1,111,000,000		975,000,000
Total liabilities	94,202,000,000		93,238,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Interest expense	826,000,000	923,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,900,000,000		3,400,000,000
Notes Receivable Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	55,700,000,000		56,200,000,000
Debt	42,300,000,000		41,400,000,000
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Cash contribution for collateral to support Wholesale Securitization Program	125,000,000		0
Footnote information [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities Liabilities Excluded	187,000,000		246,000,000
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Derivative asset exposure based on the fair value of derivative instruments related to securitization programs	195,000,000		238,000,000
Derivative liabilities exposure based on the fair value of derivative instruments related to securitization programs	207,000,000		160,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Derivative Income/(Expense)	107,000,000	10,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Securitization Transactions [Member]
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Derivative asset exposure based on the fair value of derivative instruments related to securitization programs	113,000,000		157,000,000
Derivative liabilities exposure based on the fair value of derivative instruments related to securitization programs	128,000,000		97,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Derivative Income/(Expense)	95,000,000	(55,000,000)
Interest expense	227,000,000	254,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Ford Credit [Member]
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity, Financial or Other Support, Amount	250,000,000
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Derivative asset exposure based on the fair value of derivative instruments related to securitization programs	82,000,000		81,000,000
Derivative liabilities exposure based on the fair value of derivative instruments related to securitization programs	79,000,000		63,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Derivative Income/(Expense)	12,000,000	65,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Finance Receivables [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,600,000,000		3,000,000,000
Notes Receivable Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	50,000,000,000		49,800,000,000
Debt	38,300,000,000		37,200,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Retail [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,700,000,000		2,500,000,000
Notes Receivable Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	31,100,000,000		31,900,000,000
Debt	25,500,000,000		26,000,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Wholesale [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	900,000,000		500,000,000
Notes Receivable Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	18,900,000,000		17,900,000,000
Debt	12,800,000,000		11,200,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Net Investment in Operating Leases [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	300,000,000		400,000,000
Notes Receivable Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	5,700,000,000		6,400,000,000
Debt	4,000,000,000		4,200,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Total maximum exposure	75,000,000		71,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Cash contribution for collateral to support Wholesale Securitization Program	0
Maximum [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Maximum Exposure to Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]
Cash contribution for collateral to support Wholesale Securitization Program	$ 125,000,000