Summary of Accounting Policies - Error Correction, Equity Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period		$ 1,916			$ 1,916
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 26		$ 47		(91)	$ 107
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(18)		(99)		17	(72)
Defined benefit plans	(2)		4		(1)	7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(23)		(95)		17	(65)
Balance at end of period	1,844				1,844
As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			50			108
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(100)			(73)
Defined benefit plans			4			7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(96)			(66)
Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			(3)			(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments			1			1
Defined benefit plans			0			0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			1			1
Accumulated Deficit
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(1,150)	(1,013)	(963)	$ (1,009)	(1,013)	(1,009)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	26	(117)	47	60		107
Dividends			(12)			(25)
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards							$ (1)
Balance at end of period	(1,124)	(1,150)	(928)	(963)	(1,124)	(928)
Accumulated Deficit | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(902)	(946)		(946)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			50			108
Dividends			(12)			(25)
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards							(1)
Balance at end of period			(864)	(902)		(864)
Accumulated Deficit | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(61)	(63)		(63)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			(3)			(1)
Balance at end of period			(64)	(61)		(64)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(658)	(692)	(516)	(538)	(692)	(538)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(17)	29	(92)	19		(73)
Defined benefit plans	(2)	1	4	3		7
Balance at end of period	(680)	(658)	(604)	(516)	(680)	(604)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss) | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(519)	(541)		(541)
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(93)			(74)
Defined benefit plans			4			7
Balance at end of period			(608)	(519)		(608)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss) | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			3	3		3
Foreign currency translation adjustments			1			1
Balance at end of period			4	3		4
Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,628	1,726	707	636	1,726	636
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	26	(117)	47	60		107
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(17)	29	(92)	19		(73)
Defined benefit plans	(2)	1	4	3		7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(41)			41
Common stock issued			3			6
Dividends			(12)			(25)
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards							(1)
Balance at end of period	1,638	1,628	657	707	1,638	657
Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			765	696		696
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			50			108
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(93)			(74)
Defined benefit plans			4			7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(39)			41
Common stock issued			3			6
Dividends			(12)			(25)
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards							(1)
Balance at end of period			717	765		717
Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders' Equity | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(58)	(60)		(60)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			(3)			(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments			1			1
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(2)			0
Balance at end of period			(60)	(58)		(60)
Total Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,827	1,916	767	682	1,916	682
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	35	(110)	54	67		121
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(17)	33	(97)	26		(71)
Defined benefit plans	(2)	1	4	3		7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(39)			57
Common stock issued			3			6
Dividends			(30)			(43)
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards							(1)
Balance at end of period	$ 1,844	$ 1,827	701	767	$ 1,844	701
Total Equity | As Reported
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			825	742		742
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			57			122
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(98)			(72)
Defined benefit plans			4			7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(37)			57
Common stock issued			3			6
Dividends			(30)			(43)
Adjustments to adopt new accounting standards							$ (1)
Balance at end of period			761	825		761
Total Equity | Revisions
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(58)	(60)		(60)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.			(3)			(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments			1			1
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(2)			0
Balance at end of period			$ (60)	$ (58)		$ (60)