Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 620
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 83	$ 179	139	$ 318
Other comprehensive loss			2	(1)
Ending balance	686	659	686	659
As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		180		323
Ending balance		675		675
Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		(1)		(5)
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.			139	318
Ending balance	(1,001)	(1,138)	(1,001)	(1,138)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(1,448)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.				323
Ending balance		(1,125)		(1,125)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(8)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.				(5)
Ending balance		(13)		(13)
Tenneco Inc.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		179		318
Ending balance	647	622	647	622
Tenneco Inc. | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		180		323
Ending balance		635		635
Tenneco Inc. | Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.		(1)		(5)
Ending balance		(13)		(13)
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			47	39
Net income			21	20
Other comprehensive loss			2	0
Dividends declared			(31)	(22)
Ending balance	$ 39	37	$ 39	37
Noncontrolling Interests | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				42
Net income				21
Other comprehensive loss				(1)
Dividends declared				(22)
Ending balance		40		40
Noncontrolling Interests | Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(3)
Net income				(1)
Other comprehensive loss				1
Dividends declared				0
Ending balance		$ (3)		$ (3)