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Commitments and Contingencies - Litigation-Related Liability and Tax Administrative Matters (Details) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2018 jurisdiction | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) action shares | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) action employee shares | Oct. 15, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) state | Aug. 31, 2017 state
Indirect Tax Matters [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  | $ 900,000,000 |  |  | $ 900,000,000 |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic-loss cases [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of filed claims | action |  | 100 |  |  | 100 |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic-loss cases [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of jurisdictions | jurisdiction | 27 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - July 2009 Sale Order [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - July 2009 Sale Order [Member] | Granted Motion to Dismiss [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - July 2009 Sale Order [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 | 9
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Lost Personal Time and Certain Unjust Enrichment Claims [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of jurisdictions | jurisdiction | 47 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Lost Personal Time and Certain Unjust Enrichment Claims [Member] | Granted Motion to Dismiss [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of jurisdictions | jurisdiction | 41 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Hourly [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of plaintiffs | employee |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |
Number of employees in the case | employee |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  | $ 570,000,000 |  |  | $ 570,000,000 |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Salaried [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  | 160,000,000 |  |  | 160,000,000 |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Former Subcontract Workers [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  | 130,000,000 |  |  | 130,000,000 |  |  |
Probable loss accrual |  | 170,000,000 |  |  | 170,000,000 |  |  |
GM Brazil Indirect Tax Claim [Member] | Brazil [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Favorable settlement amount |  | 123,000,000 | $ 380,000,000 | $ 857,000,000 |  |  |  |
Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated litigation liability |  | 1,400,000,000 |  |  | 1,400,000,000 |  | $ 1,300,000,000 |
Amended and Restated Master Sale and Purchase Agreement [Member] | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Contingently Issuable Shares [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowed general unsecured claims amount |  | $ 35,000,000,000.0 |  |  | $ 35,000,000,000.0 |  |  |
Contingently issuable shares (in shares) | shares |  | 30,000,000 |  |  | 30,000,000 |  |  |
Amount of allowed general unsecured claims |  |  | $ 31,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Amended and Restated Master Sale and Purchase Agreement [Member] | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Contingently Issuable Shares [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value of contingently issuable shares |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,100,000,000 |  |

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