Finance Receivables Net (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Finance receivables, net	$ 68,332,000,000	$ 69,976,000,000
Financial Services [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	72,992,000,000	73,831,000,000
Less: Allowance for Credit Losses	(394,000,000)	(501,000,000)
Finance receivables, net	72,598,000,000	73,330,000,000
Net finance receivables subject to fair value	70,388,000,000	70,754,000,000
Fair value	72,296,000,000	72,294,000,000
Finance Receivables Net Not Subject To Fair Value	2,200,000,000	2,600,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	55,525,000,000	54,227,000,000
Less: Allowance for Credit Losses	(298,000,000)	(388,000,000)
Finance receivables, net	55,227,000,000	53,839,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	17,467,000,000	19,604,000,000
Less: Allowance for Credit Losses	(96,000,000)	(113,000,000)
Finance receivables, net	17,371,000,000	19,491,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	48,207,000,000	47,751,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	37,984,000,000	37,003,000,000
Amount of finance receivables that secure certain debt obligations	23,900,000,000	29,400,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	10,223,000,000	10,748,000,000
Amount of finance receivables that secure certain debt obligations	6,100,000,000	7,100,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Retail [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivable Before Unearned Interest Supplements	47,540,000,000	46,806,000,000
Less: Unearned interest supplements	(1,541,000,000)	(1,626,000,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	45,999,000,000	45,180,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Retail [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivable Before Unearned Interest Supplements	39,279,000,000	38,406,000,000
Less: Unearned interest supplements	(1,326,000,000)	(1,407,000,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	37,953,000,000	36,999,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Retail [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivable Before Unearned Interest Supplements	8,261,000,000	8,400,000,000
Less: Unearned interest supplements	(215,000,000)	(219,000,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	8,046,000,000	8,181,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Direct financing leases [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivable Before Unearned Interest Supplements	2,296,000,000	2,687,000,000
Less: Unearned interest supplements	(88,000,000)	(116,000,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	2,208,000,000	2,571,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Direct financing leases [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivable Before Unearned Interest Supplements	31,000,000	4,000,000
Less: Unearned interest supplements	0	0
Financing Receivable, Gross	31,000,000	4,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Consumer [Member] | Direct financing leases [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivable Before Unearned Interest Supplements	2,265,000,000	2,683,000,000
Less: Unearned interest supplements	(88,000,000)	(116,000,000)
Financing Receivable, Gross	2,177,000,000	2,567,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	24,785,000,000	26,080,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	17,541,000,000	17,224,000,000
Amount of finance receivables that secure certain debt obligations	14,200,000,000	14,200,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	7,244,000,000	8,856,000,000
Amount of finance receivables that secure certain debt obligations	4,300,000,000	5,600,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Wholesale [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	22,309,000,000	23,829,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Wholesale [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	15,517,000,000	15,413,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Wholesale [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	6,792,000,000	8,416,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Dealer loans [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	1,204,000,000	1,151,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Dealer loans [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	1,146,000,000	1,088,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Dealer loans [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	58,000,000	63,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Other [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	1,272,000,000	1,100,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Other [Member] | North America [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	878,000,000	723,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Non-consumer [Member] | Other [Member] | International [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Gross	394,000,000	377,000,000
Other Assets on Statement of Financial Position [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Net Finance Receivables [Abstract]
Uncollected Interest Receivable Excluded From Finance Receivable	$ 173,000,000	$ 180,000,000