CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests	Total Equity
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			1
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 525		$ 3,098	$ (659)	$ (1,154)	$ (761)	$ 47	$ 572
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ 265	198				198		31	229
Foreign currency translation adjustments	106	104			104			(1)	103
Defined benefit plans	17	17			17				17
Comprehensive income (loss)	388	319						30	349
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	123
Stock-based compensation, net		14		14					14
Purchase accounting measurement period adjustment	0
Cash dividends		(53)				(53)			(53)
Purchases of treasury stock		(169)					(169)		(169)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(31)	(31)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest transaction with owner	0
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			1
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2017		636		3,112	(538)	(1,009)	(930)	46	682
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	111	55				55		27	82
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(134)	(132)			(132)			0	(132)
Defined benefit plans	(22)	(22)			(22)				(22)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(45)	(99)						27	(72)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(156)
Common stock issued		1,236		1,236					1,236
Acquisitions								143	143
Stock-based compensation, net		12		12					12
Purchase accounting measurement period adjustment	0
Cash dividends		(59)				(59)			(59)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(26)	(26)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest transaction with owner	0
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			1
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2018	1,916	1,726		4,360	(692)	(1,013)	(930)	190	1,916
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(220)	(334)				(334)		29	(305)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	16	26			26				26
Defined benefit plans	(45)	(45)			(45)				(45)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(249)	(353)						29	(324)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(29)
Acquisition of additional ownership interest in consolidated affiliates		(4)		(4)				(6)	(10)
Stock-based compensation, net		23		23					23
Purchase accounting measurement period adjustment	(8)							(2)	(2)
Cash dividends		(20)				(20)			(20)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(17)	(17)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest transaction with owner	53	53							53
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			1
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,619	$ 1,425		$ 4,432	$ (711)	$ (1,367)	$ (930)	$ 194	$ 1,619