Earnings (Loss) per Share - Summary of Earnings (Loss) per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Basic earnings (loss) per share —
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (313)	$ 70	$ 26	$ (117)	$ (109)	$ 57	$ 47	$ 60	$ (334)	$ 55	$ 198
Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)									80,904,060	58,625,087	52,796,184
Basic earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (3.87)	$ 0.87	$ 0.32	$ (1.44)	$ (1.35)	$ 1.11	$ 0.92	$ 1.17	$ (4.12)	$ 0.93	$ 3.75
Diluted earnings (loss) per share —
Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)									80,904,060	58,625,087	52,796,184
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock (in shares)									0	93,546	111,062
Stock options (in shares)									0	40,099	119,665
Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)									80,904,060	58,758,732	53,026,911
Earnings per average share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (3.87)	$ 0.87	$ 0.32	$ (1.44)	$ (1.35)	$ 1.11	$ 0.92	$ 1.17	$ (4.12)	$ 0.93	$ 3.73