SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): OCTOBER 21, 2003


                             TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)




           DELAWARE                  1-12387                   76-0515284
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                     Identification No.)





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





Registrant's telephone number, including area code:    (847) 482-5000



ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS AND REQUIRED FD DISCLOSURE.

            On October 21, 2003, Tenneco Automotive announced its results of
operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. Attachment 1 to the
press release announcing the company's third quarter 2003 results (furnished as
an exhibit to this Form 8-K report) presents the company's consolidated
statement of income, balance sheet and statement of cash flows for the period
ended September 30, 2003, and such attachment is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.



     Exhibit   Description
     Number

      99.1     Press Release, dated October 21, 2003, announcing Tenneco
               Automotive's third quarter 2003 results of operations.


ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.


            The following information, including the exhibit described below,
shall not be deemed "filed" hereunder for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific
reference in such a filing.

          On October 21, 2003, Tenneco Automotive announced its results of
operations for the third quarter of 2003. A copy of the press release announcing
the company's third quarter 2003 results is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this
Form 8-K report and is incorporated herein by reference.



                                   SIGNATURES


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                            TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC.


Date:    October 21, 2003                   By:   /s/ KENNETH R. TRAMMELL
                                                  ------------------------
                                                  Kenneth R. Trammell
                                                  Senior Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer





EXHIBIT INDEX

     Exhibit
     Number         Description

      99.1          Press Release, dated October 21, 2003, announcing Tenneco
                    Automotive's third quarter 2003 results of operations.