CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests	Total Equity
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			1
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,425		$ 4,432	$ (711)	$ (1,367)	$ (930)	$ 194	$ 1,619
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(839)				(839)		2	(837)
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(199)			(199)			(13)	(212)
Defined benefit plans		4			4				4
Cash flow hedges		(2)			(2)				(2)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(1,036)						(11)	(1,047)
Stock-based compensation, net		2		2					2
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest to permanent equity								82	82
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests		(7)		(7)					(7)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			1
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2020		384		4,427	(908)	(2,206)	(930)	265	649
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			1
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019		1,425		4,432	(711)	(1,367)	(930)	194	1,619
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (1,646)
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(134)
Defined benefit plans	(15)
Cash flow hedges	3
Comprehensive income (loss)	(1,792)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest to permanent equity	82
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests	(82)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020			1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2020		(401)		4,437	(854)	(3,055)	(930)	295	(106)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			1
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2020		384		4,427	(908)	(2,206)	(930)	265	649
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(350)				(350)		6	(344)
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		35			35			4	39
Defined benefit plans		(5)			(5)				(5)
Cash flow hedges		4			4				4
Comprehensive income (loss)		(316)						10	(306)
Stock-based compensation, net		6		6					6
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020			1
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2020		74		4,433	(874)	(2,556)	(930)	275	349
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(480)	(499)				(499)		12	(487)
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	43	33			33			8	41
Defined benefit plans	(14)	(14)			(14)				(14)
Cash flow hedges	1	1			1				1
Comprehensive income (loss)	(450)	(479)						20	(459)
Stock-based compensation, net		4		4					4
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020			1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2020		(401)		4,437	(854)	(3,055)	(930)	295	(106)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			1
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020	181	(119)		4,442	(744)	(2,888)	(930)	300	181
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		65				65		10	75
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(46)			(46)			(3)	(49)
Defined benefit plans		3			3				3
Cash flow hedges		(2)			(2)				(2)
Comprehensive income (loss)		20						7	27
Stock-based compensation, net		3		3					3
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(2)	(2)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021			1
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2021		(96)		4,445	(789)	(2,823)	(930)	305	209
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			1
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020	181	(119)		4,442	(744)	(2,888)	(930)	300	181
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	129
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(69)
Defined benefit plans	9
Cash flow hedges	(4)
Comprehensive income (loss)	65
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021			1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2021	223	(90)		4,458	(801)	(2,818)	(930)	313	223
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021			1
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2021		(96)		4,445	(789)	(2,823)	(930)	305	209
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)		(10)				(10)		8	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		58			58			2	60
Defined benefit plans		3			3				3
Cash flow hedges		(1)			(1)				(1)
Comprehensive income (loss)		50						10	60
Stock-based compensation, net		4		4					4
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(1)	(1)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021			1
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2021		(42)		4,449	(729)	(2,833)	(930)	314	272
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	25	15				15		5	20
Other comprehensive income (loss)—net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(79)	(74)			(74)			(3)	(77)
Defined benefit plans	3	3			3				3
Cash flow hedges	(1)	(1)			(1)				(1)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(52)	(57)						2	(55)
Stock-based compensation, net		9		9					9
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(3)	(3)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021			1
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 223	$ (90)		$ 4,458	$ (801)	$ (2,818)	$ (930)	$ 313	$ 223