Summary of Accounting Policies - Error Correction, Equity Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 682
Net income	111	$ 265	$ 415
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(134)	106	(56)
Defined benefit plans	(22)	17	51
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(156)	123	(5)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(54)	(69)	(64)
Balance at end of period	1,916	682
As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	742
Net income		274	424
Foreign currency translation adjustment		99	(45)
Defined benefit plans		27	41
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		126	(4)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(69)	(64)
Balance at end of period		742
Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	(60)
Net income		(9)	(9)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		7	(11)
Defined benefit plans		(10)	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(3)	(1)
Balance at end of period		(60)
Accumulated Deficit
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	(1,009)	(1,154)	(1,501)
Net income	55	198	347
Cash dividends	(59)	(53)
Balance at end of period	(1,013)	(1,009)	(1,154)
Accumulated Deficit | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	(946)	(1,100)	(1,456)
Net income		207	356
Cash dividends		(53)
Balance at end of period		(946)	(1,100)
Accumulated Deficit | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	(63)	(54)	(45)
Net income		(9)	(9)
Cash dividends		0
Balance at end of period		(63)	(54)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	(538)	(659)	(658)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(132)	104	(52)
Defined benefit plans	(22)	17	51
Balance at end of period	(692)	(538)	(659)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	(541)	(665)	(665)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		97	(41)
Defined benefit plans		27	41
Balance at end of period		(541)	(665)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	3	6	7
Foreign currency translation adjustment		7	(11)
Defined benefit plans		(10)	10
Balance at end of period		3	6
Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	636	525	387
Net income	55	198	347
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(132)	104	(52)
Defined benefit plans	(22)	17	51
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(99)	319	346
Stock-based compensation expense	12	14	17
Cash dividends	(59)	(53)
Purchases of treasury stock		(169)	(225)
Balance at end of period	1,726	636	525
Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	696	573	425
Net income		207	356
Foreign currency translation adjustment		97	(41)
Defined benefit plans		27	41
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		331	356
Stock-based compensation expense		14	17
Cash dividends		(53)
Purchases of treasury stock		(169)	(225)
Balance at end of period		696	573
Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	(60)	(48)	(38)
Net income		(9)	(9)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		7	(11)
Defined benefit plans		(10)	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(12)	(10)
Stock-based compensation expense		0	0
Cash dividends		0
Purchases of treasury stock		0	0
Balance at end of period		(60)	(48)
Total Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	682	572	426
Net income	82	229	379
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(132)	103	(54)
Defined benefit plans	(22)	17	51
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(72)	349	376
Stock-based compensation expense	12	14	17
Cash dividends	(59)	(53)
Purchases of treasury stock		(169)	(225)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests	(26)	(31)	(22)
Balance at end of period	1,916	682	572
Total Equity | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	742	620	464
Net income		238	388
Foreign currency translation adjustment		96	(43)
Defined benefit plans		27	41
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		361	386
Stock-based compensation expense		14	17
Cash dividends		(53)
Purchases of treasury stock		(169)	(225)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests		(31)	(22)
Balance at end of period		742	620
Total Equity | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	$ (60)	(48)	(38)
Net income		(9)	(9)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		7	(11)
Defined benefit plans		(10)	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(12)	(10)
Stock-based compensation expense		0	0
Cash dividends		0
Purchases of treasury stock		0	0
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests		0	0
Balance at end of period		$ (60)	$ (48)