Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (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
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales and operating revenues	$ 4,143	$ 4,319	$ 4,504	$ 4,484	$ 4,278	$ 2,371	$ 2,533	$ 2,581	$ 17,450	$ 11,763	$ 9,274
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	3,581	3,660	3,801	3,870	3,673	2,002	2,134	2,193	14,912	10,002	7,771
Earnings (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests	(144)	148	141	(24)	(23)	112	111	122	121	322	413
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (313)	$ 70	$ 26	$ (117)	$ (109)	$ 57	$ 47	$ 60	$ (334)	$ 55	$ 198
Basic earnings (loss) 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 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