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v2.4.1.9

Income Taxes Components of Provision for Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Current |  |  |
Federal | $ 0.6 us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit | $ (1.3)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit | $ (3.3)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
Other state and local | 0.1 us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit | 0.1 us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit | 1.1 us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit
Foreign | 44.2 us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit | 12.1 us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit | 10.2 us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit
Total current | 44.9 us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 10.9 us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 8.0 us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred |  |  |
Federal | (11.6)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (9.3)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (347.1)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Foreign | 0.4 us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (9.8)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 3.9 us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | (11.2)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (19.1)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (343.2)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total deferred | 20.1 us-gaap_OtherTaxExpenseBenefit |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 33.7 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (8.2)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (335.2)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Additions to Income Tax Expense for Changes to Prior Year Uncertain Tax Positions | 10.5 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 6.1 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Income tax expense (benefit), change in estimate | 3.4 axl_Incometaxexpensebenefitchangeinestimate | 4.8 axl_Incometaxexpensebenefitchangeinestimate |
Income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations, adjustment of deferred tax (asset) liability |  | 8.5 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperationsAdjustmentOfDeferredTaxAssetLiability |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Reduction Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations |  | 1.5 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations |
Income tax expense (benefit), other |  | (3.3)axl_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitOther |
Unrecognized tax benefits, decrease resulting from cash and non-cash settlements with taxing authorities |  | 8.4 axl_Unrecognizedtaxbenefitsdecreaseresultingfromcashandnoncashsettlementswithtaxingauthorities |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities |  | 4.7 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities | (4.4)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Net Tax Expense from Amendment of State Tax Returns due to Settlement of Federal Income Tax Audits |  |  | 1.3 axl_NetTaxExpenseFromAmendmentOfStateTaxReturnsDueToSettlementOfFederalIncomeTaxAudits
Tax positions relating to transfer pricing [Member] |  |  |
Deferred |  |  |
Additions to Income Tax Expense for Changes to Prior Year Uncertain Tax Positions | $ 23.1 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = axl_TaxpositionsrelatingtotransferpricingMember |  |
Mexico [Member] |  |  |
Deferred |  |  |
Previously enacted tax rate |  | 17.50%axl_Previouslyenactedtaxrate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_MexicanTaxAuthorityMember |
Newly enacted tax rate |  | 30.00%axl_Newlyenactedtaxrate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_MexicanTaxAuthorityMember |

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- Definition Represents the impact on income tax expense for the first six months of 2012 due to the amendment of State income tax returns as a result of the settlement of federal income tax audits for certain tax years. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of total decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from both cash and non-cash settlements with taxing authorities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of current federal tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Tax Expense (or Benefit) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509736 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section I -Paragraph Question 1-7 + Details
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