Plan of Liquidation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	52 Months Ended	57 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Aug. 05, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 10, 2016	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 15, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Allowed General Unsecured Claims								$ 29,771,000,000
Disputed General Unsecured Claims		$ 20,000,000						8,154,000,000
Total aggregate amount of general unsecured claims, both allowed and disputed inclusive of potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims								39,425,000,000
Reserve for Disputed General Unsecured Claims		50,000,000
Amount of Term Loan Avoidance Action								1,500,000,000
Dividends received			$ 24,700,000
Contribution from MLC								52,700,000
Initial Reporting Cash								$ 5,700,000
Appropriated Distributable Cash	$ 12,000,000
Aggregate Other Administrative Cash		9,218,000
Distributable Cash set aside for projected Trust fees, costs and expenses		41,400,000
Distributable Cash set aside for potential Taxes on Distribution		0
Residual Wind-Down Assets							$ 42,800,000
Residual Wind-Down Assets cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities							40,000,000
Cash received to fund Avoidance Action Defense Costs							1,400,000
Residual wind-down assets transferred benefit in prepaid expenses							2,800,000
Avoidance action defense costs in excess of corresponding cash		15,500,000
Residual Wind-Down Assets held by the GUC Trust aggregated		17,300,000
Remaining Residual Wind-Down Claims		2,200,000
Cash received for funding Indenture Trustee Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs and Reporting Costs							3,400,000
Funds for Indenture Trustee/Fiscal Paying Agent Costs		270,000
Cash received for indenture trustee and paying agent costs							1,400,000
Cash received for reporting cash							$ 2,000,000
New GM Securities [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Aggregate sales of new GM Securities to fund costs and expenses				$ 61,700,000
Aggregate dividend cash associated with sales of New GM Securities to fund costs				$ 200,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Remaining Administrative Fund aggregated		7,812,000
Aggregate Other Administrative Cash		9,218,000
Residual Wind-Down Assets		17,335,000
Funds for Indenture Trustee/Fiscal Paying Agent Costs		$ 270,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Remaining Administrative Fund Returned					$ 6,000,000
New GM Series A Warrants [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Distributable assets number of securities called by warrants								136,363,635
Exercise price per share								$ 10.00
Warrants expiration date		Jul. 10, 2016
Number of securities sold to fund costs and expenses			948,887
New GM Series B Warrants [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Distributable assets number of securities called by warrants								136,363,635
Exercise price per share								$ 18.33
Warrants expiration date		Jul. 10, 2019
Number of securities sold to fund costs and expenses			948,887
New GM Common Stock [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Distributable assets number of securities								150,000,000
Securities authorized for sale						$ 13,700,000
Number of securities sold to fund costs and expenses			1,043,801