-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QAj3shOxYnjEnmTB1wz3Ogo0BRrfNL3mPvO78Laxi9nZY0ZZlcy0VdX19eSC9iXR
 kafaLoUjRY1cWmzhRRZQ6g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-05-005461.txt : 20050128
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-05-005461.hdr.sgml : 20050128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050128205904
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-05-005461
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050126
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050128
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SEVERANCE DENNIS G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239790

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12387
		FILM NUMBER:		05559784

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE
		STREET 2:		500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024725
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				760515284
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-482-50

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 N FIELD DR
		STREET 2:		ROOM T 2560B
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NEW TENNECO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>boc91606_01dgs.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024725</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239790</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEVERANCE DENNIS G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BUSINESS SCHOOL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>701 TAPPAN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ANN ARBOR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1418</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5304</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects distribution of 2002 Performance Share Grant Award pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Timothy R. Donovan, Attorney-in-fact for Dennis G. Severance</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----