Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	$ 35,791	$ 33,623	$ 108,650	$ 107,873
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	3,153	2,523	8,955	9,759
Adjustments	(440)	0	(1,578)	(654)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)	(1)	(34)	11
Income before income taxes	2,630	2,430	7,091	8,870
Income tax benefit (expense)	(100)	(2,316)	(1,085)	(3,637)
Income from continuing operations	2,530	114	6,006	5,233
(Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(3,096)	(70)	(3,935)
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders	2,534	(2,981)	5,970	1,287
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	9,155	8,820	9,155	8,820	$ 9,073
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	5,651	5,854	5,651	5,854	5,849
Total assets	225,711	229,502	225,711	229,502	$ 212,482
Depreciation and amortization	3,305	3,130	9,501	8,813
Impairment charges	8	17	522	271
Equity income	530	500	1,815	1,585
Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Automotive interest income	82	59	218	184
Automotive interest expense	(161)	(151)	(470)	(430)
GMI [Member] \| Separation Programs In Korea [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring costs			1,100
GMI [Member] \| Separation Programs In South Africa And India [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax restructuring costs				460
GMI [Member] \| Separation Programs In Venezuela [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deconsolidation loss				80
Operating Segments [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	32,288	30,475	98,312	99,126
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,870	2,380	8,012	9,324
Adjustments	(440)	0	(1,578)	(654)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,847	7,701	7,847	7,701
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	3,615	3,863	3,615	3,863
Total assets	118,896	123,832	118,896	123,832
Depreciation and amortization	1,399	1,387	3,936	4,055
Impairment charges	8	17	522	271
Equity income	486	459	1,674	1,456
Operating Segments [Member] \| GMNA [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	27,650	24,819	83,969	82,594
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	2,825	2,068	7,728	9,014
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	77	82	77	82
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2,674	2,871	2,674	2,871
Total assets	110,245	109,934	110,245	109,934
Depreciation and amortization	1,251	1,210	3,474	3,499
Impairment charges	0	10	53	59
Equity income	2	2	7	8
Operating Segments [Member] \| GMI [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	4,582	5,576	14,188	16,226
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	139	389	471	884
Adjustments	0	0	(1,138)	(540)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	7,770	7,619	7,770	7,619
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	939	980	939	980
Total assets	25,780	27,832	25,780	27,832
Depreciation and amortization	136	166	426	535
Impairment charges	2	7	463	207
Equity income	484	457	1,667	1,448
Operating Segments [Member] \| GM Cruise [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(214)	(165)	(534)	(455)
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	679	620	679	620
Total assets	2,567	564	2,567	564
Depreciation and amortization	2	0	5	1
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] \| GM Financial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	3,518	3,161	10,417	8,899
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	498	310	1,477	895
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	1,308	1,119	1,308	1,119
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,357	1,371	1,357	1,371
Total assets	105,658	106,142	105,658	106,142
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Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	44	41	141	129
Corporate [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	56	80	155	306
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(94)	(77)	(187)	(574)
Adjustments	(440)	0	(440)	(114)
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2	12	2	12
Total assets	28,194	25,797	28,194	25,797
Depreciation and amortization	12	11	36	22
Impairment charges	6	0	6	5
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Corporate [Member] \| Automotive [Member] \| Ignition Switch Recall Litigations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
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Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales and revenue	(15)	(13)	(79)	(152)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes-adjusted	(1)	(2)	0	(5)
Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total assets	(1,410)	(1,036)	(1,410)	(1,036)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
Equity income	0	0	0	0
Eliminations [Member] \| Automotive [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0	0	0	0
Total assets	(45,323)	(39,731)	(45,323)	(39,731)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	(1)
Impairment charges	0	0	0	0
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