Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Fair value of derivative assets	$ 1,400
Counterparty and Risk Collateral [Abstract]
Collateral related to derivative instruments	21		70
Maximum Length of Time Hedged in Cash Flow Hedge	2 years
Automotive [Member]
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	25,383		22,635
Fair value of derivative assets	129		218
Fair Value of Liabilities	663		820
Counterparty and Risk Collateral [Abstract]
Derivative asset instruments, adjustment for non-performance risk	(1)		(3)
Derivative liability instruments, adjusted for non-performance risk	(4)		(10)
Automotive [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	40	24
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	10,348		8,100
Fair value of derivative assets	79		98
Fair Value of Liabilities	301		452
Automotive [Member] \| Foreign currency exchange contracts [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	7,950		5,692
Fair value of derivative assets	65		92
Fair Value of Liabilities	75		80
Automotive [Member] \| Commodity Contract [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	71	15
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	2,386		2,396
Fair value of derivative assets	14		2
Fair Value of Liabilities	226		372
Automotive [Member] \| Foreign currency exchange contracts - operating exposures [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	(27)	9
Automotive [Member] \| Other - warrants [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	(4)	0
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	12		12
Fair value of derivative assets			4
Fair Value of Liabilities
Automotive [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member] \| Foreign currency exchange contracts [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recorded in OCI	(147)	125
Gain/(Loss) Reclassified from AOCI to Income	(52)	(6)
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	1	0
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	15,035		14,535
Fair value of derivative assets	50		120
Fair Value of Liabilities	362		368
Financial Services [Member]
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	83,913		85,494
Fair value of derivative assets	1,270		1,375
Fair Value of Liabilities	390		299
Counterparty and Risk Collateral [Abstract]
Derivative asset instruments, adjustment for non-performance risk	(25)		(54)
Derivative liability instruments, adjusted for non-performance risk	(11)		(7)
Financial Services [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Footnote information [Abstract]
Hedged debt, loss from change in fair value on hedged debt	80	88
Change in fair value of hedged debt	81	70
Financial Services [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	(138)	(10)
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	73,397		77,708
Fair value of derivative assets	813		849
Fair Value of Liabilities	356		299
Financial Services [Member] \| Foreign currency exchange contracts [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	(48)	12
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	3,423		3,582
Fair value of derivative assets	2		30
Fair Value of Liabilities	43		50
Financial Services [Member] \| Interest rate contracts [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	(4)	(8)
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	66,095		70,639
Fair value of derivative assets	712		670
Fair Value of Liabilities	267		237
Financial Services [Member] \| Cross currency interest rate swap contracts [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	(48)	(14)
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	1,379		987
Fair value of derivative assets			12
Fair Value of Liabilities	46		12
Financial Services [Member] \| Other [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	(38)	0
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	2,500		2,500
Fair value of derivative assets	99		137
Fair Value of Liabilities	0		0
Financial Services [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member] \| Interest rate contracts [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Income Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income	42	48
Fair value hedges [Abstract]
Net interest settlements and accruals excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness	41	66
Ineffectiveness	1	(18)
Balance Sheet Effect of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Notionals	10,516		7,786
Fair value of derivative assets	457		526
Fair Value of Liabilities	$ 34

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Adjustment to derivative assets for non-performance risk.

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Adjustment to derivative liabilities for non-performance risk.

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The amount recognized in earnings related to the change in fair value during the period of the hedged item in a fair value hedge.

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The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features.

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Fair value of derivative asset, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position.

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Fair value of derivative liability, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position.

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The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

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The amount of net gains and losses recognized in income during the period on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges, on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges, and on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments.

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The effective portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period.

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The net gain (loss) included in earnings for the period relating to components of the gain (loss) on interest rate fair value hedging instruments excluded from the assessment of fair value hedge effectiveness.

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The net gain (loss) recognized in earnings during the period due to the ineffectiveness on interest rate fair value hedges.

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Loss recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the fair value hedges' ineffectiveness.

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Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments.

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Aggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

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-Glossary Notional Amount

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