Supplemental Consolidating Data - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 833,868	$ 1,203,766	$ 687,521
Marketable securities	0	10,007
Accounts receivable, net	259,334	306,474
Finance receivables, net	2,272,522	2,214,424
Inventories, net	603,571	556,128
Restricted cash	64,554	49,275	47,518
Other current assets	168,974	144,368
Total current assets	4,202,823	4,484,442
Finance receivables, net	5,101,844	5,007,507
Property, plant and equipment, net	847,382	904,132
Prepaid pension costs	56,014	0
Goodwill	64,160	55,048
Deferred income taxes	101,204	141,464
Lease assets	61,618
Other long-term assets	93,114	73,071
Total assets	10,528,159	10,665,664	9,972,672
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	294,380	284,861
Accrued liabilities	582,288	601,130
Short-term debt	571,995	1,135,810
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,748,109	1,575,799
Total current liabilities	3,196,772	3,597,600
Long-term debt, net	5,124,826	4,887,667
Lease liabilities	44,447
Pension liabilities	56,138	107,776
Postretirement healthcare liabilities	72,513	94,453
Deferred income taxes	8,135	0
Other long-term liabilities	221,329	204,219
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	1,803,999	1,773,949	$ 1,844,277	$ 1,920,158
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	10,528,159	10,665,664
Reportable Legal Entities | HDMC Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	470,649	544,548
Marketable securities	0	10,007
Accounts receivable, net	369,717	425,727
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories, net	603,571	556,128
Restricted cash	0	0
Other current assets	110,145	91,172
Total current assets	1,554,082	1,627,582
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	794,131	847,176
Prepaid pension costs	56,014
Goodwill	64,160	55,048
Deferred income taxes	62,768	105,388
Lease assets	55,722
Other long-term assets	166,972	144,122
Total assets	2,753,849	2,779,316
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	266,710	258,587
Accrued liabilities	463,491	496,643
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	730,201	755,230
Long-term debt, net	743,296	742,624
Lease liabilities	38,783
Pension liabilities	56,138	107,776
Postretirement healthcare liabilities	72,513	94,453
Deferred income taxes	6,219
Other long-term liabilities	180,033	164,243
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	926,666	914,990
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,753,849	2,779,316
Reportable Legal Entities | HDFS Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	363,219	659,218
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	2,272,522	2,214,424
Inventories, net	0	0
Restricted cash	64,554	49,275
Other current assets	59,665	59,070
Total current assets	2,759,960	2,981,987
Finance receivables, net	5,101,844	5,007,507
Property, plant and equipment, net	53,251	56,956
Prepaid pension costs	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	39,882	37,603
Lease assets	5,896
Other long-term assets	19,211	18,680
Total assets	7,980,044	8,102,733
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	138,053	145,527
Accrued liabilities	119,186	110,063
Short-term debt	571,995	1,135,810
Current portion of long-term debt, net	1,748,109	1,575,799
Total current liabilities	2,577,343	2,967,199
Long-term debt, net	4,381,530	4,145,043
Lease liabilities	5,664
Pension liabilities	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liabilities	0	0
Deferred income taxes	1,916
Other long-term liabilities	38,693	37,142
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	974,898	953,349
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,980,044	8,102,733
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(110,383)	(119,253)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories, net	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Other current assets	(836)	(5,874)
Total current assets	(111,219)	(125,127)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Prepaid pension costs	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(1,446)	(1,527)
Lease assets	0
Other long-term assets	(93,069)	(89,731)
Total assets	(205,734)	(216,385)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(110,383)	(119,253)
Accrued liabilities	(389)	(5,576)
Short-term debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt, net	0	0
Total current liabilities	(110,772)	(124,829)
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Lease liabilities	0
Pension liabilities	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liabilities	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0
Other long-term liabilities	2,603	2,834
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	(97,565)	(94,390)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (205,734)	$ (216,385)