Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 687,521	$ 759,984	$ 722,209	$ 906,680
Marketable securities	0	5,519
Accounts receivable, net	329,986	285,106
Finance receivables, net	2,105,662	2,076,261
Inventories	538,202	499,917
Restricted cash	47,518	52,574
Other current assets	175,853	174,491
Total current assets	3,884,742	3,853,852
Finance receivables, net	4,859,424	4,759,197
Property, plant and equipment, net	967,781	981,593
Prepaid pension costs	19,816	0
Goodwill	55,947	53,391
Deferred income taxes	109,073	167,729
Other long-term assets	75,889	74,478
Total assets	9,972,672	9,890,240	9,972,977
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	227,597	235,318
Accrued liabilities	529,822	486,652
Short-term debt	1,273,482	1,055,708
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,127,269	1,084,884
Total current liabilities	3,158,170	2,862,562
Long-term debt, net	4,587,258	4,666,975
Pension liability	54,606	84,442
Postretirement healthcare liability	118,753	173,267
Other long-term liabilities	209,608	182,836
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	1,844,277	1,920,158	1,839,654	2,909,286
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,972,672	9,890,240
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	338,186	425,540	400,443	573,895
Marketable securities		5,019
Accounts receivable, net	483,709	450,186
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	538,202	499,917
Restricted cash	0	0
Other current assets	132,999	127,606
Total current assets	1,493,096	1,508,268
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	922,280	942,634
Prepaid pension costs	19,816
Goodwill	55,947	53,391
Deferred income taxes	66,877	103,487
Other long-term assets	138,344	132,835
Total assets	2,696,360	2,740,615
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	214,263	219,353
Accrued liabilities	444,028	395,907
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	658,291	615,260
Long-term debt, net	741,961	741,306
Pension liability	54,606	84,442
Postretirement healthcare liability	118,753	173,267
Other long-term liabilities	171,200	150,391
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	951,549	975,949
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,696,360	2,740,615
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	349,335	334,444	321,766	332,785
Marketable securities		500
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	2,105,662	2,076,261
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	47,518	52,574
Other current assets	48,521	46,934
Total current assets	2,551,036	2,510,713
Finance receivables, net	4,859,424	4,759,197
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,501	38,959
Prepaid pension costs	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	43,515	66,152
Other long-term assets	23,593	24,769
Total assets	7,523,069	7,399,790
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	167,057	181,045
Accrued liabilities	90,942	90,910
Short-term debt	1,273,482	1,055,708
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,127,269	1,084,884
Total current liabilities	2,658,750	2,412,547
Long-term debt, net	3,845,297	3,925,669
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	35,503	29,697
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	983,519	1,031,877
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,523,069	7,399,790
Eliminations
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	$ 0	$ 0
Marketable securities		0
Accounts receivable, net	(153,723)	(165,080)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Other current assets	(5,667)	(49)
Total current assets	(159,390)	(165,129)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Prepaid pension costs	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(1,319)	(1,910)
Other long-term assets	(86,048)	(83,126)
Total assets	(246,757)	(250,165)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(153,723)	(165,080)
Accrued liabilities	(5,148)	(165)
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	(158,871)	(165,245)
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	2,905	2,748
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	(90,791)	(87,668)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (246,757)	$ (250,165)