<PAGE>   1

     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 28, 2000

                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                          ----------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          ----------------------------

                            TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
                  DELAWARE                                      76-0515284
       (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

            500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
            LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS                                  60045
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)
</TABLE>

                          ----------------------------
          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES

         TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES
                           (Full Title of the Plans)

                               TIMOTHY R. DONOVAN
                   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                            TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.
                             500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
                          LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS 60045
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                           TELEPHONE: (847) 482-5000
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                          ----------------------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
     TITLE OF SECURITIES            AMOUNT TO BE        OFFERING PRICE         AGGREGATE            AMOUNT OF
       TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED          PER SHARE(1)      OFFERING PRICE(1)   REGISTRATION FEE(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>                  <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Common Stock, par value $.01
  per share (including
  associated preferred share
  purchase rights)............  1,880,000 shares(2)         $8.13             $15,281,400            $4,036
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended (the "Securities Act"), based on the average of the high and low
    prices of the Company's Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
    Exchange on March 24, 2000.

(2) Of the shares registered hereunder, 921,200 shares may be offered or sold
    from time to time pursuant to the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership Plan
    for Hourly Employees (the "Hourly Plan") and 958,800 shares may be offered
    or sold from time to time pursuant to the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership
    Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Salaried Plan").
                          ----------------------------

     In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this
Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be
offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     The information required by Part I is included in documents sent or given
to the respective participants in the plans listed on the cover page of this
Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. As
used herein, the terms "Registrant" or "Company" refer to Tenneco Automotive
Inc.

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are hereby incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement:

     (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
         31, 1999 (File No. 1-12387); and

     (b) The description of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock")
         included in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No.
         1-12387), originally filed with the Commission on October 30, 1996, and
         the description of the preferred share purchase rights included in the
         Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, originally filed on
         September 17, 1998 (File No. 1-12387), in each case including all
         amendments thereto and all reports filed for the purpose of updating
         the description included therein.

     In addition to the foregoing, all documents subsequently filed by the
Company, the Hourly Plan or the Salaried Plan pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereunder have been
issued or which deregisters all securities offered then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a
part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement,
including financial statements, contained in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
subsequent statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     Certain legal matters regarding the Common Stock offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Jenner & Block. Mr. Theodore R. Tetzlaff is a
partner of Jenner & Block and served as General Counsel of the Company until
November 4, 1999. At December 31, 1999, Mr. Tetzlaff beneficially owned 13,847
shares of Common Stock.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Elimination of Liability of Directors

     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the
"Certificate"), provides that a director of the Company shall not be liable to
the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for

                                        1
<PAGE>   3

breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware ("DGCL") as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended. Further, the Certificate provides that any amendment, modification or
repeal of the provision referred to in the preceding sentence shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Company thereunder
in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment,
modification or repeal.

     This provision does not eliminate a director's fiduciary duty of care, and
in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or other
forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In
addition, the provision shall not limit or eliminate the liability of a director
for: (i) breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law; (iii) any transaction from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit; and (iv) payment of
dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful
under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director's
responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws.
Reference is made to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL.

     The Company has in force an insurance policy which purports to insure the
officers and directors of the Company against certain liabilities incurred by
them in the discharge of their functions as officers and directors, within the
limits and subject to the limitations of the policy.

     Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     The by-laws of the Company provide that the Company will indemnify and hold
harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently
exists or may thereafter be amended, any person (an "Indemnittee") who was or is
made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
including appeals, (a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he, or a person
for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Company or, while a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit
entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all
liability and loss suffered and expenses, including attorneys' fees, reasonably
incurred by such Indemnittee. The by-laws also provide that, notwithstanding the
foregoing, but except as described in the second following paragraph, the
Company will be required to indemnify an Indemnittee in connection with a
proceeding or part thereof commenced by such Indemnittee only if the
commencement of the proceeding or part thereof by the Indemnittee was authorized
by the Board.

     The by-laws further provide that the Company will pay the expenses,
including attorneys' fees, incurred by an Indemnittee in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the
extent required by law, the payment of expenses in advance of the final
disposition of the proceeding will be made only upon receipt of an undertaking
by such Indemnittee to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately
determined that the Indemnittee is not entitled to be indemnified under the
relevant section of the by-laws or otherwise.

     Pursuant to the by-laws, if a claim for indemnification or payment of
expenses thereunder is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim
therefor by the Indemnittee has been received by the Company, the Indemnittee
may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, will be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such
claim. The by-laws provide that, in any such action, the Company will have the
burden of proving that the Indemnittee is not entitled to the requested
indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

     The by-laws also provide:

     - that the rights conferred on any Indemnittee shall not be exclusive of
       any other rights which such Indemnittee may have or thereafter acquire
       under any statute, provision of the Certificate, the by-laws, agreement,
       vote of shareowners or disinterested directors or otherwise;

                                        2
<PAGE>   4

     - that the Company's obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance
       expenses to any Indemnittee who was or is serving at its request as a
       director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership,
       joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity will be reduced by
       any amount such Indemnittee may collect as indemnification or advancement
       of expenses from such other company, partnership, joint venture, trust,
       enterprise or nonprofit enterprise; and

     - that any repeal or modification of the relevant provisions of the by-laws
       will not adversely affect any right or protection thereunder of any
       Indemnittee in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time
       of such repeal or modification.

     The by-laws also expressly state that the provisions thereof will not limit
the Company's right, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to
indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnittees when and as
authorized by appropriate corporate action.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

     The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement or
incorporated herein by reference (exhibits designated by an asterisk are filed
with this Registration Statement; all other exhibits are incorporated by
reference):

<TABLE>
       <C>          <C> <S>
           4.1(a)   --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated
                        December 11, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(a) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                        for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(b)   --  Certificate of Amendment, dated December 11, 1996
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(c) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(c)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated July 8, 1997
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(d)   --  Certificate of Designation of Series B Junior Participating
                        Preferred Stock, dated September 9, 1998 (incorporated
                        herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the Company's
                        Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                        September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(e)   --  Certificate of Elimination of the Series A Participating
                        Junior Preferred Stock of the Company, dated September 11,
                        1998 (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(e)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(f)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(f) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(g)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(g) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(h)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger merging Tenneco
                        Automotive Merger Sub Inc. with and into the Company, dated
                        November 5, 1999 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(h) of the Company's Quarterly Report for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
</TABLE>

                                        3
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
       <C>          <C> <S>
           4.2      --  By-Laws of the Company, as amended March 14, 2000
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.2(a) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, File No. 1-12387).
           4.3      --  Specimen stock certificate for Tenneco Automotive Inc.
                        Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.3 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.4      --  Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated October 21, 1999, to
                        Indenture dated November 1, 1996 between The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank, as Trustee, and the Company (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.2(l) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(a)   --  Indenture dated October 14, 1999 by and between the Company
                        and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.4(a) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File
                        No. 1-12387).
           4.5(b)   --  Supplemental Indenture dated November 4, 1999 among Tenneco
                        Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly Tenneco
                        Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding Corp.,
                        Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company and
                        Clevite Industries Inc. in favor of The Bank of New York, as
                        trustee (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.4(b) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                        the quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(c)   --  Subsidiary Guarantee dated as of October 14, 1999 from
                        Tenneco Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly
                        Tenneco Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding
                        Corp., Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company,
                        Clevite Industries Inc. and TMC Texas Inc. in favor of The
                        Bank of New York as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference to Exhibit 4.4(c) of the Company's Registration
                        Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-93757).
           4.6      --  Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1999, among the
                        Company, the Lenders named therein, Commerzbank and Bank of
                        America, N.A., Citicorp USA, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 4.5(a)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(a)   --  Rights Agreement dated as of September 8, 1998, by and
                        between the registrant and First Chicago Trust Company of
                        New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference
                        from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                        dated September 24, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(b)   --  Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated March 14, 2000,
                        by and between the registrant and First Chicago Trust
                        Company of New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.1(b) of the Company's Annual Report
                        on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, File No.
                        1-12387).
            *5      --  Opinion of Jenner & Block as to the legality of the Common
                        Stock being registered.
            15      --  None.
         *23.1      --  Consent of Jenner & Block (included in Exhibit 5).
         *23.2      --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
         *24.1      --  Powers of Attorney of the following Directors of the
                        Company: Mark Andrews, M. Kathryn Eickhoff, Dana G. Mead,
                        Sir David Plastow, Roger B. Porter, David B. Price, Jr. and
                        Paul T. Stecko.
            99      --  None.
</TABLE>

     The Company will submit or has submitted the Hourly Plan and the Salaried
Plan, and hereby undertakes to submit any amendments thereto, to the Internal
Revenue Service in a timely manner and has made or will make all changes
required by the Internal Revenue Service in order to qualify said Hourly Plan
and Salaried Plan.

                                        4
<PAGE>   6

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

A. SUBSEQUENT DISCLOSURE.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales of the
     securities registered hereby are being made, a post-effective amendment to
     this Registration Statement:

             (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act;

             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in this Registration Statement;

             (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement
        or any material change to such information in this Registration
        Statement;

        provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i) and
        (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a
        post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
        reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company,
        pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
        incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

B. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.

     The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

C. COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION.

     The Company hereby undertakes that, insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

                                        5
<PAGE>   7
                                   SIGNATURES

     The Registrant.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Lake Forest, State of Illinois, on the 28th day
of March, 2000.

                                          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.

                                          By      /s/ MARK P. FRISSORA
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      Mark P. Frissora
                                               President, Chairman and Chief
                                                      Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                      TITLE                      DATE
                      ---------                                      -----                      ----
<C>                                                      <S>                               <C>

                /s/ MARK P. FRISSORA                     Principal Executive Officer       March 28, 2000
-----------------------------------------------------      and Director
                  Mark P. Frissora

                /s/ MARK A. MCCOLLUM                     Principal Financial Officer       March 28, 2000
-----------------------------------------------------
                  Mark A. McCollum

               /s/ KENNETH R. TRAMMELL                   Principal Accounting Officer      March 28, 2000
-----------------------------------------------------
                 Kenneth R. Trammell

Mark Andrews, M. Kathryn Eickhoff, Dana G. Mead, Sir     Directors                         March 28, 2000
David Plastow, Roger B. Porter, David B. Price, Jr.
and Paul T. Stecko*

*By              /s/ TIMOTHY R. DONOVAN                                                                 March 28, 2000
   --------------------------------------------------
   Timothy R. Donovan
   Attorney-in-fact

</TABLE>

                                        6
<PAGE>   8

                                   SIGNATURES

     The Plans. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Committee appointed under each of the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership Plan
for Hourly Employees and the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership Plan for
Salaried Employees has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lake
Forest, State of Illinois, on this 28th day of March, 2000.

                                          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP
                                          PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES
                                          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP
                                          PLAN FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES

                                          By    /s/ RICHARD P. SCHNEIDER
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                    Richard P. Schneider
                                            Chairman of Tenneco Automotive Inc.
                                                     Benefits Committee

                                        7
<PAGE>   9

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       EXHIBIT
       NUMBER                                   DESCRIPTION
       -------                                  -----------
       <C>          <C> <S>

           4.1(a)   --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated
                        December 11, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(a) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                        for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(b)   --  Certificate of Amendment, dated December 11, 1996
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(c) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(c)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated July 8, 1997
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(d)   --  Certificate of Designation of Series B Junior Participating
                        Preferred Stock, dated September 9, 1998 (incorporated
                        herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the Company's
                        Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                        September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(e)   --  Certificate of Elimination of the Series A Participating
                        Junior Preferred Stock of the Company, dated September 11,
                        1998 (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(e)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(f)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(f) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(g)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(g) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(h)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger merging Tenneco
                        Automotive Merger Sub Inc. with and into the Company, dated
                        November 5, 1999 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(h) of the Company's Quarterly Report for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.2      --  By-Laws of the Company, as amended March 14, 2000
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.2(a) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, File No. 1-12387).
           4.3      --  Specimen stock certificate for Tenneco Automotive Inc.
                        Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.3 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.4      --  Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated October 21, 1999, to
                        Indenture dated November 1, 1996 between The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank, as Trustee, and the Company (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.2(l) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(a)   --  Indenture dated October 14, 1999 by and between the Company
                        and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.4(a) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File
                        No. 1-12387).
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   10

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       EXHIBIT
       NUMBER                                   DESCRIPTION
       -------                                  -----------
       <C>          <C> <S>
           4.5(b)   --  Supplemental Indenture dated November 4, 1999 among Tenneco
                        Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly Tenneco
                        Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding Corp.,
                        Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company and
                        Clevite Industries Inc. in favor of The Bank of New York, as
                        trustee (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.4(b) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                        the quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(c)   --  Subsidiary Guarantee dated as of October 14, 1999 from
                        Tenneco Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly
                        Tenneco Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding
                        Corp., Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company,
                        Clevite Industries Inc. and TMC Texas Inc. in favor of The
                        Bank of New York as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference to Exhibit 4.4(c) of the Company's Registration
                        Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-93757).
           4.6      --  Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1999, among the
                        Company, the Lenders named therein, Commerzbank and Bank of
                        America, N.A., Citicorp USA, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 4.5(a)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(a)   --  Rights Agreement dated as of September 8, 1998, by and
                        between the registrant and First Chicago Trust Company of
                        New York, as Rights Agent (Incorporated herein by reference
                        from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                        dated September 24, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(b)   --  Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated March 14, 2000,
                        by and between the registrant and First Chicago Trust
                        Company of New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.1(b) of the Company's Annual Report
                        on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, File No.
                        1-12387).
            *5      --  Opinion of Jenner & Block as to the legality of the Common
                        Stock being registered.
            15      --  None.
         *23.1      --  Consent of Jenner & Block (included in Exhibit 5).
         *23.2      --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
         *24.1      --  Powers of Attorney of the following Directors of the
                        Company: Mark Andrews, M. Kathryn Eickhoff, Dana G. Mead,
                        Sir David Plastow, Roger B. Porter, David B. Price, Jr. and
                        Paul T. Stecko.
            99      --  None.
</TABLE>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC", "cik": "0001024725", "assigned-sic": "3714", "irs-number": "760515284", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-33442", "film-number": "581547"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE", "city": "LAKE FOREST", "state": "IL", "zip": "60045", "phone": "847-482-50"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "500 N FIELD DR", "street2": "ROOM T 2560B", "city": "LAKE FOREST", "state": "IL", "zip": "60045"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "NEW TENNECO INC", "date-changed": "19961011"}}
1

     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 28, 2000

                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                          ----------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          ----------------------------

                            TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE                                      76-0515284
       (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

            500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
            LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS                                  60045
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)
----------------------------
          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES

         TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES
                           (Full Title of the Plans)

                               TIMOTHY R. DONOVAN
                   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                            TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.
                             500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
                          LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS 60045
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                           TELEPHONE: (847) 482-5000
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                          ----------------------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
     TITLE OF SECURITIES            AMOUNT TO BE        OFFERING PRICE         AGGREGATE            AMOUNT OF
       TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED          PER SHARE(1)      OFFERING PRICE(1)   REGISTRATION FEE(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $.01
  per share (including
  associated preferred share
  purchase rights)............  1,880,000 shares(2)         $8.13             $15,281,400            $4,036
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended (the "Securities Act"), based on the average of the high and low
    prices of the Company's Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
    Exchange on March 24, 2000.

(2) Of the shares registered hereunder, 921,200 shares may be offered or sold
    from time to time pursuant to the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership Plan
    for Hourly Employees (the "Hourly Plan") and 958,800 shares may be offered
    or sold from time to time pursuant to the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership
    Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Salaried Plan").
                          ----------------------------

     In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this
Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be
offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     The information required by Part I is included in documents sent or given
to the respective participants in the plans listed on the cover page of this
Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. As
used herein, the terms "Registrant" or "Company" refer to Tenneco Automotive
Inc.

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are hereby incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement:

     (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
         31, 1999 (File No. 1-12387); and

     (b) The description of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock")
         included in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No.
         1-12387), originally filed with the Commission on October 30, 1996, and
         the description of the preferred share purchase rights included in the
         Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, originally filed on
         September 17, 1998 (File No. 1-12387), in each case including all
         amendments thereto and all reports filed for the purpose of updating
         the description included therein.

     In addition to the foregoing, all documents subsequently filed by the
Company, the Hourly Plan or the Salaried Plan pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereunder have been
issued or which deregisters all securities offered then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a
part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement,
including financial statements, contained in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
subsequent statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     Certain legal matters regarding the Common Stock offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Jenner & Block. Mr. Theodore R. Tetzlaff is a
partner of Jenner & Block and served as General Counsel of the Company until
November 4, 1999. At December 31, 1999, Mr. Tetzlaff beneficially owned 13,847
shares of Common Stock.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Elimination of Liability of Directors

     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the
"Certificate"), provides that a director of the Company shall not be liable to
the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for

                                        1
3

breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware ("DGCL") as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended. Further, the Certificate provides that any amendment, modification or
repeal of the provision referred to in the preceding sentence shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Company thereunder
in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment,
modification or repeal.

     This provision does not eliminate a director's fiduciary duty of care, and
in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or other
forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In
addition, the provision shall not limit or eliminate the liability of a director
for: (i) breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law; (iii) any transaction from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit; and (iv) payment of
dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful
under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director's
responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws.
Reference is made to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL.

     The Company has in force an insurance policy which purports to insure the
officers and directors of the Company against certain liabilities incurred by
them in the discharge of their functions as officers and directors, within the
limits and subject to the limitations of the policy.

     Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     The by-laws of the Company provide that the Company will indemnify and hold
harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently
exists or may thereafter be amended, any person (an "Indemnittee") who was or is
made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
including appeals, (a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he, or a person
for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Company or, while a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit
entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all
liability and loss suffered and expenses, including attorneys' fees, reasonably
incurred by such Indemnittee. The by-laws also provide that, notwithstanding the
foregoing, but except as described in the second following paragraph, the
Company will be required to indemnify an Indemnittee in connection with a
proceeding or part thereof commenced by such Indemnittee only if the
commencement of the proceeding or part thereof by the Indemnittee was authorized
by the Board.

     The by-laws further provide that the Company will pay the expenses,
including attorneys' fees, incurred by an Indemnittee in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the
extent required by law, the payment of expenses in advance of the final
disposition of the proceeding will be made only upon receipt of an undertaking
by such Indemnittee to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately
determined that the Indemnittee is not entitled to be indemnified under the
relevant section of the by-laws or otherwise.

     Pursuant to the by-laws, if a claim for indemnification or payment of
expenses thereunder is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim
therefor by the Indemnittee has been received by the Company, the Indemnittee
may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, will be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such
claim. The by-laws provide that, in any such action, the Company will have the
burden of proving that the Indemnittee is not entitled to the requested
indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

     The by-laws also provide:

     - that the rights conferred on any Indemnittee shall not be exclusive of
       any other rights which such Indemnittee may have or thereafter acquire
       under any statute, provision of the Certificate, the by-laws, agreement,
       vote of shareowners or disinterested directors or otherwise;

                                        2
4

     - that the Company's obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance
       expenses to any Indemnittee who was or is serving at its request as a
       director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership,
       joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity will be reduced by
       any amount such Indemnittee may collect as indemnification or advancement
       of expenses from such other company, partnership, joint venture, trust,
       enterprise or nonprofit enterprise; and

     - that any repeal or modification of the relevant provisions of the by-laws
       will not adversely affect any right or protection thereunder of any
       Indemnittee in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time
       of such repeal or modification.

     The by-laws also expressly state that the provisions thereof will not limit
the Company's right, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to
indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnittees when and as
authorized by appropriate corporate action.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

     The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement or
incorporated herein by reference (exhibits designated by an asterisk are filed
with this Registration Statement; all other exhibits are incorporated by
reference):
4.1(a)   --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated
                        December 11, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(a) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                        for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(b)   --  Certificate of Amendment, dated December 11, 1996
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(c) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(c)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated July 8, 1997
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(d)   --  Certificate of Designation of Series B Junior Participating
                        Preferred Stock, dated September 9, 1998 (incorporated
                        herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the Company's
                        Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                        September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(e)   --  Certificate of Elimination of the Series A Participating
                        Junior Preferred Stock of the Company, dated September 11,
                        1998 (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(e)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(f)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(f) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(g)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(g) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(h)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger merging Tenneco
                        Automotive Merger Sub Inc. with and into the Company, dated
                        November 5, 1999 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(h) of the Company's Quarterly Report for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
3
5
4.2      --  By-Laws of the Company, as amended March 14, 2000
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.2(a) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, File No. 1-12387).
           4.3      --  Specimen stock certificate for Tenneco Automotive Inc.
                        Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.3 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.4      --  Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated October 21, 1999, to
                        Indenture dated November 1, 1996 between The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank, as Trustee, and the Company (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.2(l) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(a)   --  Indenture dated October 14, 1999 by and between the Company
                        and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.4(a) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File
                        No. 1-12387).
           4.5(b)   --  Supplemental Indenture dated November 4, 1999 among Tenneco
                        Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly Tenneco
                        Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding Corp.,
                        Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company and
                        Clevite Industries Inc. in favor of The Bank of New York, as
                        trustee (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.4(b) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                        the quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(c)   --  Subsidiary Guarantee dated as of October 14, 1999 from
                        Tenneco Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly
                        Tenneco Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding
                        Corp., Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company,
                        Clevite Industries Inc. and TMC Texas Inc. in favor of The
                        Bank of New York as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference to Exhibit 4.4(c) of the Company's Registration
                        Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-93757).
           4.6      --  Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1999, among the
                        Company, the Lenders named therein, Commerzbank and Bank of
                        America, N.A., Citicorp USA, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 4.5(a)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(a)   --  Rights Agreement dated as of September 8, 1998, by and
                        between the registrant and First Chicago Trust Company of
                        New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference
                        from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                        dated September 24, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(b)   --  Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated March 14, 2000,
                        by and between the registrant and First Chicago Trust
                        Company of New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.1(b) of the Company's Annual Report
                        on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, File No.
                        1-12387).
            *5      --  Opinion of Jenner & Block as to the legality of the Common
                        Stock being registered.
            15      --  None.
         *23.1      --  Consent of Jenner & Block (included in Exhibit 5).
         *23.2      --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
         *24.1      --  Powers of Attorney of the following Directors of the
                        Company: Mark Andrews, M. Kathryn Eickhoff, Dana G. Mead,
                        Sir David Plastow, Roger B. Porter, David B. Price, Jr. and
                        Paul T. Stecko.
            99      --  None.
The Company will submit or has submitted the Hourly Plan and the Salaried
Plan, and hereby undertakes to submit any amendments thereto, to the Internal
Revenue Service in a timely manner and has made or will make all changes
required by the Internal Revenue Service in order to qualify said Hourly Plan
and Salaried Plan.

                                        4
6

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

A. SUBSEQUENT DISCLOSURE.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales of the
     securities registered hereby are being made, a post-effective amendment to
     this Registration Statement:

             (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act;

             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in this Registration Statement;

             (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement
        or any material change to such information in this Registration
        Statement;

        provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i) and
        (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a
        post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
        reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company,
        pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
        incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

B. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.

     The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

C. COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION.

     The Company hereby undertakes that, insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

                                        5
7
                                   SIGNATURES

     The Registrant.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Lake Forest, State of Illinois, on the 28th day
of March, 2000.

                                          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.

                                          By      /s/ MARK P. FRISSORA
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      Mark P. Frissora
                                               President, Chairman and Chief
                                                      Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                      TITLE                      DATE
                      ---------                                      -----                      ----
/s/ MARK P. FRISSORA                     Principal Executive Officer       March 28, 2000
-----------------------------------------------------      and Director
                  Mark P. Frissora

                /s/ MARK A. MCCOLLUM                     Principal Financial Officer       March 28, 2000
-----------------------------------------------------
                  Mark A. McCollum

               /s/ KENNETH R. TRAMMELL                   Principal Accounting Officer      March 28, 2000
-----------------------------------------------------
                 Kenneth R. Trammell

Mark Andrews, M. Kathryn Eickhoff, Dana G. Mead, Sir     Directors                         March 28, 2000
David Plastow, Roger B. Porter, David B. Price, Jr.
and Paul T. Stecko*

*By              /s/ TIMOTHY R. DONOVAN                                                                 March 28, 2000
   --------------------------------------------------
   Timothy R. Donovan
   Attorney-in-fact
6
8

                                   SIGNATURES

     The Plans. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Committee appointed under each of the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership Plan
for Hourly Employees and the Tenneco Automotive Stock Ownership Plan for
Salaried Employees has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lake
Forest, State of Illinois, on this 28th day of March, 2000.

                                          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP
                                          PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES
                                          TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP
                                          PLAN FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES

                                          By    /s/ RICHARD P. SCHNEIDER
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                    Richard P. Schneider
                                            Chairman of Tenneco Automotive Inc.
                                                     Benefits Committee

                                        7
9

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
       NUMBER                                   DESCRIPTION
       -------                                  -----------
4.1(a)   --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated
                        December 11, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(a) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                        for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(b)   --  Certificate of Amendment, dated December 11, 1996
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(c) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(c)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated July 8, 1997
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                        December 31, 1997, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(d)   --  Certificate of Designation of Series B Junior Participating
                        Preferred Stock, dated September 9, 1998 (incorporated
                        herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(d) of the Company's
                        Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                        September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(e)   --  Certificate of Elimination of the Series A Participating
                        Junior Preferred Stock of the Company, dated September 11,
                        1998 (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(e)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(f)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(f) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(g)   --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of
                        Incorporation of the Company dated November 5, 1999
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1(g) of the
                        Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                        ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.1(h)   --  Certificate of Ownership and Merger merging Tenneco
                        Automotive Merger Sub Inc. with and into the Company, dated
                        November 5, 1999 (incorporated herein by reference from
                        Exhibit 3.1(h) of the Company's Quarterly Report for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.2      --  By-Laws of the Company, as amended March 14, 2000
                        (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.2(a) of the
                        Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, File No. 1-12387).
           4.3      --  Specimen stock certificate for Tenneco Automotive Inc.
                        Common Stock (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.3 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.4      --  Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated October 21, 1999, to
                        Indenture dated November 1, 1996 between The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank, as Trustee, and the Company (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.2(l) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(a)   --  Indenture dated October 14, 1999 by and between the Company
                        and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.4(a) of the Company's Quarterly
                        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
                        1999, File
                        No. 1-12387).
10
EXHIBIT
       NUMBER                                   DESCRIPTION
       -------                                  -----------
4.5(b)   --  Supplemental Indenture dated November 4, 1999 among Tenneco
                        Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly Tenneco
                        Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding Corp.,
                        Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company and
                        Clevite Industries Inc. in favor of The Bank of New York, as
                        trustee (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit
                        4.4(b) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                        the quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.5(c)   --  Subsidiary Guarantee dated as of October 14, 1999 from
                        Tenneco Automotive Operating Subsidiary Inc. (formerly
                        Tenneco Automotive Inc.), Tenneco International Holding
                        Corp., Tenneco Global Holdings Inc., the Pullman Company,
                        Clevite Industries Inc. and TMC Texas Inc. in favor of The
                        Bank of New York as trustee (incorporated herein by
                        reference to Exhibit 4.4(c) of the Company's Registration
                        Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-93757).
           4.6      --  Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1999, among the
                        Company, the Lenders named therein, Commerzbank and Bank of
                        America, N.A., Citicorp USA, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan
                        Bank (incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 4.5(a)
                        of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                        quarter ended September 30, 1999, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(a)   --  Rights Agreement dated as of September 8, 1998, by and
                        between the registrant and First Chicago Trust Company of
                        New York, as Rights Agent (Incorporated herein by reference
                        from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                        dated September 24, 1998, File No. 1-12387).
           4.7(b)   --  Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated March 14, 2000,
                        by and between the registrant and First Chicago Trust
                        Company of New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by
                        reference from Exhibit 4.1(b) of the Company's Annual Report
                        on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, File No.
                        1-12387).
            *5      --  Opinion of Jenner & Block as to the legality of the Common
                        Stock being registered.
            15      --  None.
         *23.1      --  Consent of Jenner & Block (included in Exhibit 5).
         *23.2      --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
         *24.1      --  Powers of Attorney of the following Directors of the
                        Company: Mark Andrews, M. Kathryn Eickhoff, Dana G. Mead,
                        Sir David Plastow, Roger B. Porter, David B. Price, Jr. and
                        Paul T. Stecko.
            99      --  None.