CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests	Total Equity
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017			$ (930)	$ 3,112	$ (1,009)	$ (538)	$ 636	$ 46	$ 682
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)					60		60	7	67
Foreign currency translation adjustments						19	19	7	26
Defined benefit plans						3	3		3
Comprehensive income (loss)							82	14	96
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards					(1)		(1)		(1)
Stock-based compensation, net				3			3		3
Cash dividends declared					(13)		(13)		(13)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		1
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018			(930)	3,115	(963)	(516)	707	60	767
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017			(930)	3,112	(1,009)	(538)	636	46	682
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ 164				164		164		181
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(103)					(101)	(101)		(100)
Derivatives	0
Defined benefit plans	11					11	11		11
Comprehensive income (loss)	111
Purchase accounting measurement period adjustment	0
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests									(26)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018			(930)	3,121	(884)	(628)	680	38	718
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2018			(930)	3,115	(963)	(516)	707	60	767
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)							47	7	54
Foreign currency translation adjustments						(92)	(92)	(5)	(97)
Defined benefit plans						4	4		4
Comprehensive income (loss)							(41)	2	(39)
Stock-based compensation, net				3			3		3
Cash dividends declared					(12)		(12)		(12)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(18)	(18)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		1
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2018			(930)	3,118	(928)	(604)	657	44	701
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	57				57		57	3	60
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(31)					(28)	(28)	(1)	(29)
Derivatives	0
Defined benefit plans	4					4	4		4
Comprehensive income (loss)	39						33	2	35
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards					1		1		1
Stock-based compensation, net				3			3		3
Cash dividends declared					(14)		(14)		(14)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(8)	(8)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018			(930)	3,121	(884)	(628)	680	38	718
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	1,916		(930)	4,360	(1,013)	(692)	1,726	190	1,916
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)					(117)		(117)	7	(110)
Foreign currency translation adjustments						29	29	4	33
Derivatives						4	4		4
Defined benefit plans						1	1		1
Comprehensive income (loss)							(83)	11	(72)
Stock-based compensation, net				5			5		5
Cash dividends declared					(20)		(20)		(20)
Purchase accounting measurement period adjustment								(1)	(1)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(1)	(1)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		1
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019			(930)	4,365	(1,150)	(658)	1,628	199	1,827
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	1,916		(930)	4,360	(1,013)	(692)	1,726	190	1,916
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(21)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(80)
Derivatives	1
Defined benefit plans	2
Comprehensive income (loss)	(59)
Purchase accounting measurement period adjustment	(8)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	1,837		(930)	4,377	(1,054)	(752)	1,642	195	1,837
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019			(930)	4,365	(1,150)	(658)	1,628	199	1,827
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)					26		26	9	35
Foreign currency translation adjustments						(17)	(17)		(17)
Derivatives						(3)	(3)		(3)
Defined benefit plans						(2)	(2)		(2)
Comprehensive income (loss)							4	9	13
Stock-based compensation, net				6			6		6
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(2)	(2)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		1
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019			(930)	4,371	(1,124)	(680)	1,638	206	1,844
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	70				70		70	4	74
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(97)					(75)	(75)	(11)	(86)
Derivatives	0
Defined benefit plans	3					3	3		3
Comprehensive income (loss)	(16)						(2)	(7)	(9)
Acquisition and other	(3)							(3)
Stock-based compensation, net				6			6		6
Purchase accounting measurement period adjustment								(1)	(1)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,837		$ (930)	$ 4,377	$ (1,054)	$ (752)	$ 1,642	$ 195	$ 1,837