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Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests Preferred and Common Stock (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Votes $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Preferred stock shares authorized | shares |  | 2,000 |  |
Common stock shares authorized | shares |  | 5,000 |  |
Common stock number of shares issued | shares |  | 1,400 | 1,500 |
Common stock shares outstanding | shares |  | 1,400 | 1,500 |
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  | $ 1.52 | $ 1.52 | $ 1.38
Cash dividends paid on common stock | $ |  | $ 2,215 | $ 2,337 | $ 2,174
Number of votes per share | Votes |  | 1 |  |
Common shares purchased during period | shares |  | 120 | 77 | 102
Amount of common stock purchased during period | $ |  | $ 4,492 | $ 2,500 | $ 3,520
Issuance of GM Financial preferred stock | $ |  | $ 985 |  |
GM Financial [Member] | Series A Preferred Stock [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Issuance of GM Financial preferred stock | $ | $ 1,000 |  |  |
Preferred stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 0.01 |  |  |
Liquidation preference of preferred stock per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 1,000 |  |  |
Preferred stock dividend rate | 5.75% |  |  |
Annual dividend amount | $ | $ 58 |  |  |
Term of fixed rate dividends of preferred stock dividend payments | 10 years |  |  |

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