Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes	$ 244	$ 199
Total Assets	4,881	4,346	$ 4,279
Accounts payable	1,608	1,501
Accrued taxes	53	39
Deferred credits and other liabilities	157	139
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	25	40	26	$ 42
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(1,070)	(1,100)
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity	615	573
Noncontrolling interests	42	47
Total equity	657	620	580
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$ 4,881	4,346
As Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes		195
Total Assets		4,342
Accounts payable		1,496
Accrued taxes		41
Deferred credits and other liabilities		116
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		43
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)		(1,085)
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity		588
Noncontrolling interests		51
Total equity		639	596
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity		4,342
Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes		4
Total Assets		4
Accounts payable		5
Accrued taxes		(2)
Deferred credits and other liabilities		23
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		(3)
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)		(15)
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity		(15)
Noncontrolling interests		(4)
Total equity		(19)	$ (16)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity		$ 4