CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 40	$ 57	$ 68	$ 49	$ 363	$ 247	$ 226
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests					70	56	44
Net income					433	303	270
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance January 1		(298)		(163)	(298)	(163)	(56)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent					(41)	(131)	(105)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					(4)	(4)	(2)
Translation of foreign currency statements, net of tax					(45)	(135)	(107)
Balance December 31	(343)		(298)		(343)	(298)	(163)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance January 1		(368)		(379)	(368)	(379)	(299)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent					41	11	(80)
Adjustment to the Liability for Pension and Postretirement benefits, net of tax					41	11	(80)
Balance December 31	(327)		(368)		(327)	(368)	(379)
Balance December 31	(670)		(666)		(670)	(666)	(542)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent					0	(120)	(185)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					(4)	(4)	(2)
Other comprehensive loss					(4)	(124)	(187)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent					363	127	41
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					66	52	42
Comprehensive Income					429	179	83
Tenneco Inc.
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance January 1		(297)		(166)	(297)	(166)	(61)
Balance December 31	(338)		(297)		(338)	(297)	(166)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance January 1		(368)		(379)	(368)	(379)	(299)
Balance December 31	(327)		(368)		(327)	(368)	(379)
Balance December 31	(665)		(665)		(665)	(665)	(545)
Noncontrolling Interests
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance January 1		(1)		3	(1)	3	5
Balance December 31	(5)		(1)		(5)	(1)	3
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance January 1		$ 0		$ 0	0	0	0
Balance December 31	0		0		0	0	0
Balance December 31	$ (5)		$ (1)		$ (5)	$ (1)	$ 3