CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests	Total Equity
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			1
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 387		$ 3,081	$ (658)	$ (1,501)	$ (536)	$ 39	$ 426
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 415	347				347		32	379
Foreign currency translation adjustments—net	(56)	(52)			(52)			(2)	(54)
Defined benefit plans—net	51	51			51				51
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(5)	346						30	376
Stock-based compensation expense		17		17					17
Purchases of treasury stock		(225)					(225)		(225)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(22)	(22)
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2016		525	$ 1	3,098	(659)	(1,154)	(761)	47	572
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	265	198				198		31	229
Foreign currency translation adjustments—net	106	104			104			(1)	103
Defined benefit plans—net	17	17			17				17
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	123	319						30	349
Stock-based compensation expense		14		14					14
Cash dividends ($1.00 per share)		(53)				(53)			(53)
Purchases of treasury stock		(169)					(169)		(169)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(31)	(31)
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2017	682	636	1	3,112	(538)	(1,009)	(930)	46	682
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	111	55				55		27	82
Foreign currency translation adjustments—net	(134)	(132)			(132)				(132)
Defined benefit plans—net	(22)	(22)			(22)				(22)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(156)	(99)						27	(72)
Common stock issued		1,236		1,236					1,236
Federal-Mogul Acquisition								143	143
Stock-based compensation expense		12		12					12
Cash dividends ($1.00 per share)		(59)				(59)			(59)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests								(26)	(26)
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,916	$ 1,726	$ 1	$ 4,360	$ (692)	$ (1,013)	$ (930)	$ 190	$ 1,916