Earnings (Loss) per Share - Summary of Earnings (Loss) per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (1,521)	$ (334)	$ 55
Basic earnings (loss) per share —
Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	81,378,474	80,904,060	58,625,087
Basic earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (18.69)	$ (4.12)	$ 0.93
Diluted earnings (loss) per share —
Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	81,378,474	80,904,060	58,625,087
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock RSUs and PSUs (in shares)	0	0	93,546
Stock options (in shares)	0	0	40,099
Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)	81,378,474	80,904,060	58,758,732
Earnings per average share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (18.69)	$ (4.12)	$ 0.93