Variable Interest Entities - VIEs of Which we are the Primary Beneficiary (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 13,539,000,000	$ 16,460,000,000	$ 13,539,000,000	$ 16,460,000,000	$ 17,148,000,000	$ 14,805,000,000
Debt	100,604,000,000		100,604,000,000		99,488,000,000
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Fair Value of Assets	1,700,000,000		1,700,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Interest expense	962,000,000	1,096,000,000	2,959,000,000	3,397,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,904,000,000		2,904,000,000		3,402,000,000
Debt	37,563,000,000		37,563,000,000		41,421,000,000
Financial Services [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	7,319,000,000	8,371,000,000	7,319,000,000	8,371,000,000	9,183,000,000	8,504,000,000
Debt	86,406,000,000		86,406,000,000		86,595,000,000
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Fair Value of Assets	1,501,000,000		1,501,000,000		1,375,000,000
Fair Value of Liabilities	400,000,000		400,000,000		299,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Interest expense	764,000,000	915,000,000	2,388,000,000	2,763,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash contribution for collateral to support Wholesale Securitization Program	0		0		0
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,900,000,000		2,900,000,000		3,400,000,000
Finance Receivables Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	49,500,000,000		49,500,000,000		56,200,000,000
Debt	37,600,000,000		37,600,000,000		41,400,000,000
Footnote information [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities Liabilities Excluded	168,000,000		168,000,000		246,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Finance Receivables [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,600,000,000		2,600,000,000		3,000,000,000
Finance Receivables Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	44,400,000,000		44,400,000,000		49,800,000,000
Debt	34,200,000,000		34,200,000,000		37,200,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Retail [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,300,000,000		2,300,000,000		2,500,000,000
Finance Receivables Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	27,300,000,000		27,300,000,000		31,900,000,000
Debt	22,800,000,000		22,800,000,000		26,000,000,000
Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Wholesale [Member]
Assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	300,000,000		300,000,000		500,000,000
Finance Receivables Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	17,100,000,000		17,100,000,000		17,900,000,000
Debt	11,400,000,000		11,400,000,000		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		300,000,000		400,000,000
Finance Receivables Net And Net Investment In Operating Leases	5,100,000,000		5,100,000,000		6,400,000,000
Debt	3,400,000,000		3,400,000,000		4,200,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash contribution for collateral to support Wholesale Securitization Program	0		0
Maximum [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash contribution for collateral to support Wholesale Securitization Program	373,000,000		373,000,000
Securitization Transactions [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Fair Value of Assets	88,000,000		88,000,000		238,000,000
Fair Value of Liabilities	209,000,000		209,000,000		160,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Derivative expense/(income)	66,000,000	(64,000,000)	202,000,000	7,000,000
Securitization Transactions [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Related to Variable Interest Entity Not VIE [Member]
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Fair Value of Assets	85,000,000		85,000,000		81,000,000
Fair Value of Liabilities	70,000,000		70,000,000		63,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Derivative expense/(income)	8,000,000	(18,000,000)	(7,000,000)	20,000,000
Securitization Transactions [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Interest expense	172,000,000	248,000,000	600,000,000	763,000,000
Securitization Transactions [Member] | Financial Services [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Securitization Entities [Member]
Derivative Instruments related exposure [Abstract]
Fair Value of Assets	3,000,000		3,000,000		157,000,000
Fair Value of Liabilities	139,000,000		139,000,000		97,000,000
Financial Performance [Abstract]
Derivative expense/(income)	$ 58,000,000	$ (46,000,000)	$ 209,000,000	$ (13,000,000)