CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	Common Stock	Premium on Common Stock and Other Capital Surplus	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Less — Common Stock Held as Treasury Stock at Cost	Tenneco Inc.	Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 1,000,000	$ 3,098,000,000	$ (665,000,000)	$ (1,100,000,000)	$ 761,000,000		$ 47,000,000
Ending balance		$ 1,000,000	3,098,000,000	(665,000,000)	(1,100,000,000)	$ 761,000,000		47,000,000
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		65,891,930				11,655,938
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
(Repurchased) issued pursuant to benefit plans (in shares)		35,843
Restricted shares forfeited (shares)		(126,682)
Stock options exercised (shares)		208,818
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			11,000,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	$ 99,000,000			95,000,000				4,000,000
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	139,000,000				139,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.75)				(40,000,000)
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program (shares)						2,310,443
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program						$ 131,000,000
Net income								21,000,000
Other comprehensive income	2,000,000							2,000,000
Dividends declared								(31,000,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		66,009,909				13,966,381
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive (loss) income	32,000,000						$ 31,000,000	1,000,000
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	83,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.25)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		66,009,909				13,966,381
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	686,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,109,000,000	(570,000,000)	(1,001,000,000)	$ 892,000,000	647,000,000	39,000,000
Ending balance	686,000,000	1,000,000	3,109,000,000	(570,000,000)	(1,001,000,000)	892,000,000	647,000,000	39,000,000
Beginning balance	742,000,000	1,000,000	3,112,000,000	(541,000,000)	(946,000,000)	930,000,000		46,000,000
Ending balance	742,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,112,000,000	(541,000,000)	(946,000,000)	$ 930,000,000		46,000,000
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		66,033,509				14,592,888
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
(Repurchased) issued pursuant to benefit plans (in shares)		(18,553)
Restricted shares forfeited (shares)		(8,062)
Stock options exercised (shares)		16,199
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			9,000,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(93,000,000)			(91,000,000)			(91,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	162,000,000				162,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.75)				(39,000,000)
Adoption of accounting standards | ASU 2014-09					1,000,000
Adoption of accounting standards | ASU 2016-16	(2,000,000)				(2,000,000)
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program (shares)						0
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program						$ 0
Net income								17,000,000
Other comprehensive income	$ (3,000,000)							1,000,000
Dividends declared								(26,000,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		66,023,093				14,592,888
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock options exercised (shares)	11,420
Other comprehensive (loss) income	$ (27,000,000)						(24,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	54,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.25)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		66,023,093				14,592,888
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	775,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,121,000,000	(632,000,000)	(823,000,000)	$ 930,000,000	737,000,000	38,000,000
Ending balance	$ 775,000,000	$ 1,000,000	$ 3,121,000,000	$ (632,000,000)	$ (823,000,000)	$ 930,000,000	$ 737,000,000	$ 38,000,000