Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 620				$ 464				$ 620	$ 464	$ 535
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	38	$ 179	$ 82	$ 57	70	$ 49	$ 75	$ 47	356	241	225
Other comprehensive loss									(2)	(1)	0
As Previously Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	639				475				639	475	538
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									0	247	226
Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(19)				(11)				(19)	(11)	(3)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									0	(6)	(1)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(1,100)				(1,456)				(1,100)	(1,456)	(1,697)	$ (1,922)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									356	241	225
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | As Previously Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(1,085)				(1,448)				(1,085)	(1,448)	(1,695)	(1,921)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									363	247	226
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(15)				(8)				(15)	(8)	(2)	(1)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									(7)	(6)	(1)
Tenneco Inc.
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	573				425				573	425	495
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									356	241	225
Tenneco Inc. | As Previously Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	588				433				588	433	497
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									363	247	226
Tenneco Inc. | Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(15)				(8)				(15)	(8)	(2)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.									(7)	(6)	(1)
Noncontrolling Interest
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	47				39				47	39	40	39
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest									32	22	20
Other comprehensive loss									(2)	(3)	(1)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders									(22)	(20)	(18)
Noncontrolling Interest | As Previously Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	51				42				51	42	41	39
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest									33	24	21
Other comprehensive loss									(2)	(3)	(1)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders									(22)	(20)	(18)
Noncontrolling Interest | Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ (4)				$ (3)				(4)	(3)	(1)	$ 0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest									(1)	(2)	(1)
Other comprehensive loss									0	0	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0