Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income before income taxes (in millions)
U.S.		$ 5,266	$ 5,374	$ 3,852
Non-U.S.		1,530	4,878	(2,618)
Total		6,796	10,252	1,234
Current
Federal		(122)	75	(2)
Non-U.S.		630	572	389
State and local		12	17	(22)
Total current		520	664	365
Deferred
Federal		1,323	1,494	(735)
Non-U.S.		121	472	160
State and local		225	251	214
Total deferred		1,669	2,217	(361)
Total		$ 2,189	$ 2,881	$ 4
Reconciliation of effective tax rate
U.S. statutory rate		35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Non-U.S. tax rates under U.S. rates		(1.00%)	(2.70%)	(5.20%)
State and local income taxes		2.30%	1.70%	8.30%
General business credits		(3.10%)	(3.00%)	(27.10%)
Dispositions and restructurings		7.40%	0.40%	13.00%
U.S. tax on non-U.S. earnings		(5.60%)	(3.00%)	(23.70%)
Prior year settlements and claims		0.00%	(0.40%)	(9.10%)
Tax-exempt income		(0.90%)	(2.00%)	(24.10%)
Enacted change in tax laws		(4.20%)	0.10%	3.90%
Valuation allowances		2.70%	3.60%	32.30%
Other		(0.40%)	(1.60%)	(3.00%)
Effective rate		32.20%	28.10%	0.30%
Undistributed Foreign Earnings, Deferred Taxes Not Provided	$ 5,700	$ 5,700
Undistributed Foreign Earnings, Potential Deferred Tax liability	300	300
Deferred tax assets
Employee benefit plans	6,870	6,870	$ 6,620
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,764	1,764	2,327
Tax credit carryforwards	5,860	5,860	6,456
Research expenditures	1,469	1,469	1,279
Dealer and dealers’ customer allowances and claims	2,500	2,500	2,394
Other foreign deferred tax assets	28	28	442
All other	2,289	2,289	2,206
Total gross deferred tax assets	20,780	20,780	21,724
Less: valuation allowances	(909)	(909)	(1,831)
Total net deferred tax assets	19,871	19,871	19,893
Deferred tax liabilities
Leasing transactions	4,523	4,523	3,329
Deferred income	807	807	1,215
Depreciation and amortization (excluding leasing transactions)	3,175	3,175	2,484
Finance receivables	593	593	688
Other foreign deferred tax liabilities	371	371	407
All other	1,388	1,388	763
Total deferred tax liabilities	10,857	10,857	8,886
Net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)	9,014	9,014	11,007
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,764	1,764	2,327
Operating Loss Carryforwards Not Subject to Expiration	5,000	5,000
Tax Credit Carryforwards	5,900	$ 5,900
Tax Credit Carryforward, Remaining Carryforward Period		5 years
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 1,601	1,286
Increase – tax positions in prior periods		12	330
Increase – tax positions in current period		69	91
Decrease – tax positions in prior periods		(67)	(24)
Settlements		(23)	(65)
Lapse of statute of limitations		(3)	(7)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(3)	(10)
Ending balance	1,586	1,586	1,601	$ 1,286
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	1,500	1,500	1,500
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest Income		3	3	96
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	67	67	93
Income Taxes Paid, Net		740	$ 585	$ 467
Non-US [Member]
Deferred tax assets
Less: valuation allowances	(909)	(909)
Deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)	7,600	7,600
South America [Member]
Deferred tax liabilities
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease)		(1,100)
OperatingLossCarryforward [Member]
Deferred tax liabilities
Operating Loss Carryforwards Not Subject to Expiration	3,300	3,300
IRS Section 987 Tax Regulation [Member]
Reconciliation of effective tax rate
Deferred income tax expense/(benefit) on 2016 change in U.S. tax law	$ (300)	$ (300)