Variable Interest Entities - VIEs of Which We Are Not the Primary Beneficiary (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Automotive [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] Getrag Deutsche Venture GmbH and Co KG [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Automotive [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Automotive [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Financial Services [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Financial Services [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Investments [Member] Automotive [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Investments [Member] Automotive [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Guarantees And Other Supplier Arrangements [Member] Automotive [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantees And Other Supplier Arrangements [Member] Automotive [Member] Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Percent ownership of VIE	50.00%	50.00%
Total maximum exposure			$ 234	$ 235	$ 77	$ 71	$ 223	$ 229	$ 11	$ 6
Total change in maximum exposure			$ (1)				$ (6)		$ 5