Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 759,984	$ 722,209	$ 906,680	$ 1,066,612
Marketable securities	5,519	45,192
Accounts receivable, net	285,106	247,405
Finance receivables, net	2,076,261	2,053,582
Inventories	499,917	585,907
Restricted cash	52,574	88,267
Deferred income taxes		102,769
Other current assets	174,491	132,552
Total current assets	3,853,852	3,977,883
Finance receivables, net	4,759,197	4,814,571
Property, plant and equipment, net	981,593	942,418
Goodwill	53,391	54,182
Deferred income taxes	167,729
Deferred income taxes		99,614
Other long-term assets	74,478	84,309
Total assets	9,890,240	9,972,977	9,515,870
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	235,318	235,614
Accrued liabilities	486,652	471,964
Short-term debt	1,055,708	1,201,380
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,084,884	838,349
Total current liabilities	2,862,562	2,747,307
Long-term debt, net	4,666,975	4,832,469
Pension liability	84,442	164,888
Postretirement healthcare liability	173,267	193,659
Other long-term liabilities	182,836	195,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	1,920,158	1,839,654	2,909,286	3,009,486
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,890,240	9,972,977
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	425,540	400,443	573,895	718,912
Marketable securities	5,019	45,192
Accounts receivable, net	450,186	390,799
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	499,917	585,907
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes		56,319
Other current assets	127,606	90,824
Total current assets	1,508,268	1,569,484
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	942,634	906,972
Goodwill	53,391	54,182
Deferred income taxes	103,487
Deferred income taxes		86,075
Other long-term assets	132,835	133,753
Total assets	2,740,615	2,750,466
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	219,353	220,050
Accrued liabilities	395,907	387,137
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	615,260	607,187
Long-term debt, net	741,306	740,653
Pension liability	84,442	164,888
Postretirement healthcare liability	173,267	193,659
Other long-term liabilities	150,391	166,440
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	975,949	877,639
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,740,615	2,750,466
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	334,444	321,766	332,785	347,700
Marketable securities	500	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	2,076,261	2,053,582
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	52,574	88,267
Deferred income taxes		46,450
Other current assets	46,934	43,807
Total current assets	2,510,713	2,553,872
Finance receivables, net	4,759,197	4,814,571
Property, plant and equipment, net	38,959	35,446
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	66,152
Deferred income taxes		15,681
Other long-term assets	24,769	31,158
Total assets	7,399,790	7,450,728
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	181,045	158,958
Accrued liabilities	90,910	89,048
Short-term debt	1,055,708	1,201,380
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,084,884	838,349
Total current liabilities	2,412,547	2,287,735
Long-term debt, net	3,925,669	4,091,816
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	29,697	28,560
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	1,031,877	1,042,617
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,399,790	7,450,728
Eliminations
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	$ 0	$ 0
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(165,080)	(143,394)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes		0
Other current assets	(49)	(2,079)
Total current assets	(165,129)	(145,473)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(1,910)
Deferred income taxes		(2,142)
Other long-term assets	(83,126)	(80,602)
Total assets	(250,165)	(228,217)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(165,080)	(143,394)
Accrued liabilities	(165)	(4,221)
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	(165,245)	(147,615)
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	2,748	0
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	(87,668)	(80,602)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (250,165)	$ (228,217)