Buisness Sale Percentage of Voting Interest Sold

No definition available.

Name:	ten_BuisnessSalePercentageofVotingInterestSold
Namespace Prefix:	ten_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Disposal of Assets, Manufacturing Agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ten_DisposalofAssetsManufacturingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	ten_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity Ownership Percentage Before Additional Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ten_EquityOwnershipPercentageBeforeAdditionalSale
Namespace Prefix:	ten_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity Ownership Percentage after Additional Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ten_EquityOwnershipPercentageafterAdditionalSale
Namespace Prefix:	ten_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68079674&loc=SL4569655-111683

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 24
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68079674&loc=SL4616395-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=ten_DiscontinuationofMarzocchiMotorBikeForkSuspensionBusinessMountainBikeBusinessandLiquidationofMarzocchiOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxis=ten_TennecoFushengChengduAutomobilePartsCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=ten_QuantumCapitalPartnersA.G.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions and Divestitures -Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	May 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Sale of Parent Equity Interest			$ 1
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost				$ 36	$ 63	$ 49
Discontinuation of Marzocchi Motor Bike Fork Suspension Business, Mountain Bike Business, and Liquidation of Marzocchi Operations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost					$ 29
Tenneco Fusheng (chendu) Automobile Parts Co Ltd
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Buisness Sale Percentage of Voting Interest Sold		45.00%
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments		$ 4
Equity Ownership Percentage after Additional Sale		55.00%
Equity Ownership Percentage Before Additional Sale		100.00%
Quantum Capital Partners A.G
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Manufacturing agreement (in years)	3 years