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Commitments and Contingencies - Litigation-Related Liability and Tax Administrative Matters (Details) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 7 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2018 jurisdiction | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) recall action | Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) employee action | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) case | Apr. 30, 2018 state | Aug. 31, 2017 state
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated litigation liability |  |  | $ 1,200,000,000 | $ 1,200,000,000 |  | $ 1,300,000,000 |  |
Indirect Tax Matters [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  | $ 750,000,000 | $ 750,000,000 |  |  |  |
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 - Economic-loss cases [Member] | Proposed Settlement [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of safety recalls | recall |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |  |
Amount awarded to other party |  |  | $ 120,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic-loss cases [Member] | Proposed Settlement [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Attorneys' fees and costs |  |  | 35,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - 2009 Sales Order [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - 2009 Sales Order [Member] | Granted Motion to Dismiss [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of states | state |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7
Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - 2009 Sales 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 |  |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Salaried [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  | 170,000,000 | $ 170,000,000 |  |  |  |
Korea Wage Litigation - Former Subcontract Workers [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss |  |  | 110,000,000 | 110,000,000 |  |  |  |
Probable loss accrual |  |  | 210,000,000 | 210,000,000 |  |  |  |
GM Brazil Indirect Tax Claim [Member] | Brazil [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Recoveries of indirect taxes |  | $ 123,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |  |  |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Brazil [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of rendered favorable decisions | case |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |
Recoveries of indirect taxes |  |  |  |  | $ 1,400,000,000 | $ 1,400,000,000 |  |
MLC GUC Trust [Member] | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic-loss cases [Member] | Proposed Settlement [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount awarded to other party |  |  | 50,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
MLC GUC Trust [Member] | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Contingently Issuable Shares [Member] | Proposed Settlement [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount petitioned to be distributed to unitholders |  |  | 300,000,000 | $ 300,000,000 |  |  |  |
GM [Member] | Ignition Switch Recall Litigations - Economic-loss cases [Member] | Proposed Settlement [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount awarded to other party |  |  | $ 70,000,000 |  |  |  |  |

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