CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Total Tenneco Inc. Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)	Noncontrolling Interests	Total Equity
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		1
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019			$ 4,432	$ (711)	$ (1,367)	$ (930)	$ 1,425	$ 194	$ 1,619
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (839)				(839)		(839)	2	(837)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(219)			(199)			(199)	(13)	(212)
Defined benefit plans	4			4			4		4
Cash flow hedges	(2)			(2)			(2)		(2)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(1,043)						(1,036)	(11)	(1,047)
Stock-based compensation, net			2				2		2
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest to permanent equity								82	82
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests	(82)		(7)				(7)		(7)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		1
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2020			4,427	(908)	(2,206)	(930)	384	265	649
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		1
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020	181		4,442	(744)	(2,888)	(930)	(119)	300	181
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	65				65		65	10	75
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(52)			(46)			(46)	(3)	(49)
Defined benefit plans	3			3			3		3
Cash flow hedges	(2)			(2)			(2)		(2)
Comprehensive income (loss)	36						20	7	27
Stock-based compensation, net			3				3		3
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		1
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 209		$ 4,445	$ (789)	$ (2,823)	$ (930)	$ (96)	$ 305	$ 209