Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 620
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (3)	$ 82	56	$ 139
Other comprehensive loss			1	(1)
Ending balance	657	580	657	580
As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			639
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		86		143
Ending balance		596		596
Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(19)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		(4)		(4)
Ending balance		(16)		(16)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(1,100)	(1,456)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.			56	139
Ending balance	(1,070)	(1,317)	(1,070)	(1,317)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(1,448)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.				143
Ending balance		(1,305)		(1,305)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(8)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.				(4)
Ending balance		(12)		(12)
Tenneco Inc.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		82		139
Ending balance	615	529	615	529
Tenneco Inc. | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		86		143
Ending balance		541		541
Tenneco Inc. | Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		(4)		(4)
Ending balance		(12)		(12)
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			47	39
Net income			14	13
Other comprehensive loss			1	(1)
Ending balance	$ 42	51	$ 42	51
Noncontrolling Interests | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				42
Net income				14
Other comprehensive loss				(1)
Ending balance		55		55
Noncontrolling Interests | Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(3)
Net income				(1)
Other comprehensive loss				0
Ending balance		$ (4)		$ (4)