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Commitments and Contingencies Litigation-Related Liability and Tax Administrative Matters (Details) CAD in Millions, $ in Millions, ₩ in Billions |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
May 23, 2016 USD ($) | Feb. 11, 2016 case | Nov. 23, 2012 employee | Sep. 29, 2010 action employee | Feb. 12, 2010 dealer | Mar. 31, 2017 CAD attorney_general dealer shareholder | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) case | Apr. 17, 2017 case | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) case | Mar. 31, 2017 KRW (₩) case | Nov. 27, 2015 case | Nov. 26, 2015 case
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indirect tax-related escrow deposit | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 200 |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indirect tax-related escrow deposit | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 600 |  |  |
Indirect Tax Matters [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,100 |  |  |
BRAZIL [Member] | Foreign Tax Authority [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated potential recovery | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,400 |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of state attorneys general | attorney_general |  |  |  |  |  | 49 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic-loss cases [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100 |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic-loss cases [Member] | CANADA [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Civil Actions Brought by Governmental Entities [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Personal injury cases [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 281 |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Personal injury cases [Member] | CANADA [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14 |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Multidistrict Litigation [Member] | NEW YORK [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of claims scheduled for trial |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |
Number of claims settled |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |
Number of claims dismissed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Shareholder Class Action [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement amount | $ | $ 300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shareholders filing an appeal | shareholder |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Shareholder Derivative Action [Member] | DELAWARE [Member] | Consolidated Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of claims dismissed |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Shareholder Derivative Action [Member] | Eastern District of Michigan [Member] | Consolidated Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 | 3 |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Shareholder Derivative Action [Member] | Wayne County, Michigan [Member] | Consolidated Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 | 2 |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Investigation by the Office [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages paid | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 900 |  |  |  |  |  |
Prosecution deferral period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Period after the expiration of the period of deferral |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |
GM Canada Dealer Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of plaintiffs | dealer |  |  |  |  | 200 | 181 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages sought | CAD |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 750 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Hourly [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of plaintiffs | employee |  |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of group actions filed | action |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employees in the case | employee |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 552 | ₩ 616 |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Salaried [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 170 | ₩ 190 |  |
Number of claims remanded |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 | 1
Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated litigation liability | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,300 |  | $ 1,200 |  |  |

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