CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Premium on Common Stock and Other Capital Surplus	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Less - Common Stock Held as Treasury Stock, at Cost	Noncontrolling Interest
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired						550,000
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	$ 27
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest							$ 24
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		62,789,382				2,294,692
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 1	$ 3,031	$ (408)	$ (2,104)	$ 274	45
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issued pursuant to benefit plans (in shares)		156,213
Stock options exercised (in shares)		769,133
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest	(68)		(68)
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			51
Other comprehensive income (loss)	48			48
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	183				183
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity at Dec. 31, 2013	433
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Sale of noncontrolling equity interest							(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)							0
Dividends declared							(29)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		63,714,728				2,844,692
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	472	$ 1	3,014	(360)	(1,921)	$ 301	39
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired						400,000
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	22
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest							21
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issued pursuant to benefit plans (in shares)		62,334
Stock options exercised (in shares)		677,186
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest	0		0
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			45
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(187)			(185)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	226				226
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity at Dec. 31, 2014	497
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Sale of noncontrolling equity interest							0
Other comprehensive income (loss)							(1)
Dividends declared							(18)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		64,454,248				3,244,692
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	538	$ 1	3,059	(545)	(1,695)	$ 323	41
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired						4,228,633
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	213
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest							24
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issued pursuant to benefit plans (in shares)		335,766
Stock options exercised (in shares)		277,118
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest	0		0
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			22
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(124)			(120)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	247				247
Total Tenneco Inc. shareholders’ equity at Dec. 31, 2015	433
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Sale of noncontrolling equity interest							0
Other comprehensive income (loss)							(3)
Dividends declared							(20)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		65,067,132				7,473,325
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 475	$ 1	$ 3,081	$ (665)	$ (1,448)	$ 536	$ 42