CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 38	$ 57	$ 70	$ 47	$ 356	$ 241	$ 225
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.					68	54	42
Net income					424	295	267
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance January 1		(298)		(163)	(298)	(163)	(56)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent					(41)	(131)	(105)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					(4)	(4)	(2)
Translation of foreign currency statements, net of tax					(45)	(135)	(107)
Balance December 31	(343)		(298)		(343)	(298)	(163)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance January 1		(368)		(379)	(368)	(379)	(299)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent					41	11	(80)
Adjustment to the Liability for Pension and Postretirement benefits, net of tax					41	11	(80)
Balance December 31	(327)		(368)		(327)	(368)	(379)
Balance December 31	(670)		(666)		(670)	(666)	(542)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent					0	(120)	(185)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					(4)	(4)	(2)
Other comprehensive loss					(4)	(124)	(187)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent					356	121	40
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					64	50	40
Comprehensive Income					420	171	80
Tenneco Inc.
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.					356	241	225
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance January 1		(297)		(166)	(297)	(166)	(61)
Balance December 31	(338)		(297)		(338)	(297)	(166)
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance January 1		(368)		(379)	(368)	(379)	(299)
Balance December 31	(327)		(368)		(327)	(368)	(379)
Balance December 31	(665)		(665)		(665)	(665)	(545)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent					356	121	40
Noncontrolling Interests
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.					68	54	42
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Balance January 1		(1)		3	(1)	3	5
Balance December 31	(5)		(1)		(5)	(1)	3
Additional Liability for Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance January 1		$ 0		$ 0	0	0	0
Balance December 31	0		0		0	0	0
Balance December 31	$ (5)		$ (1)		(5)	(1)	3
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					$ 64	$ 50	$ 40