XML 38 R94.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Commitments and Contingencies - Ignition Switch Recall (Details) | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2018 jurisdiction | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) action case employee shares | Dec. 31, 2012 employee | Jan. 24, 2020 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 state | Aug. 31, 2017 state
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - July 2009 Sale Order |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Lost Personal Time and Certain Unjust Enrichment Claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of jurisdictions | jurisdiction | 47 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Contingently Issuable Shares | Amended and Restated Master Sale and Purchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowed general unsecured claims amount |  | $ 35,000,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingently issuable shares (in shares) | shares |  | 30,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of allowed general unsecured claims |  |  |  |  | $ 32,100,000,000 |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Hourly |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of plaintiffs | employee |  | 10,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employees in the case | employee |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |
Reasonably possible loss |  | $ 600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Salaried |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reasonably possible loss |  | 170,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Former Subcontract Workers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reasonably possible loss |  | $ 110,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. and Canada | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic Damage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of pending claims | action |  | 100 |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Tax Authority | Brazil |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of claims settled | case |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated potential recovery from taxing authority |  | $ 1,400,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Contingently Issuable Shares | Amended and Restated Master Sale and Purchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value of contingently issuable shares |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000,000.0 |  |  |  |
Granted Motion to Dismiss | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - July 2009 Sale Order |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7
Granted Motion to Dismiss | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Lost Personal Time and Certain Unjust Enrichment Claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of jurisdictions | jurisdiction | 41 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic Damage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of jurisdictions | jurisdiction | 27 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - July 2009 Sale Order |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 | 9
Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation-related liability and tax administrative matters |  | $ 1,300,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 1,300,000,000 |  |

X
- Definition Estimated potential recovery from the taxing authority. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_LossContingencyEstimatedPotentialRecoveryFromTaxingAuthority
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Number of Jurisdictions + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_LossContingencyNumberofJurisdictions
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Number of States + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_LossContingencyNumberofStates
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust, Amounts of General Unsecured Claims, Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_MotorsLiquidationCompanyGUCTrustAmountsofGeneralUnsecuredClaimsAmount
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust, Amounts of Material Contingent Liabilities Remaining, Shares Issuable + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_MotorsLiquidationCompanyGUCTrustAmountsofMaterialContingentLiabilitiesRemainingSharesIssuable
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust, Amounts of Material Contingent Liabilities Remaining, Value of Shares Issuable + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_MotorsLiquidationCompanyGUCTrustAmountsofMaterialContingentLiabilitiesRemainingValueofSharesIssuable
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust, Material Contingent Liabilities, General Unsecured Claims, Threshold Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_MotorsLiquidationCompanyGUCTrustMaterialContingentLiabilitiesGeneralUnsecuredClaimsThresholdAmount
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of employee involved in the case related to which supreme court rendered its decision. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gm_NumberofEmployeeintheCase
Namespace Prefix: | gm_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of claims settled and dismissed during the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsSettledAndDismissedNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The difference between the maximum amount of estimated loss and the amount recorded as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 05 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99385795&loc=d3e12631-108344 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossPortionNotAccrued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=gm_IgnitionSwitchRecallLitigationsJuly2009SaleOrderMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=gm_IgnitionSwitchRecallLitigationsLostPersonalTimeandCertainUnjustEnrichmentClaimsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=gm_IgnitionSwitchRecallLitigationsContingentlyIssuableSharesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=gm_AmendedandRestatedMasterSaleandPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=gm_KoreaWageLitigationHourlyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=gm_KoreaWageLitigationSalariedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=gm_KoreaWageLitigationFormerSubcontractWorkersMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=gm_UnitedStatesandCanadaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=gm_IgnitionSwitchRecallLitigationsEconomicDamageMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_BR
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=gm_GrantedMotiontoDismissMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=gm_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrentandOtherLiabilitiesNoncurrentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |