Chevrolet Traverse high beam headlight bulbs use D3S, H7, or 9005 sizes, while low beam headlight bulbs use D3S or H11 sizes depending on model configuration. The replacement chart covers 2009 through 2020 production years with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Mercury-free HID (xenon) discharge bulb with PK32d-5 base and integral ignitor, for projector-type housings. 42V, 35W.
The H11 bulb is the most consistently used low beam bulb across the Chevrolet Traverse lineup, appearing in every model year from 2009 through 2018 in halogen-equipped vehicles. It operates at 12V and 55W, uses a PGJ19-2 base, and follows the ECE standard recognized in Europe, the US, and worldwide markets.
The D3S is an HID (xenon) discharge bulb rated at 42V and 35W, built to ECE standards, and fitted with a PK32d-5 base that incorporates an integral ignitor. Its design is specific to projector-type housings, meaning it is not interchangeable with the halogen housings used in other Traverse trim configurations.
For the 2019-2020 Traverse, the D3S serves as both the high beam and low beam bulb when HID headlamps are fitted. This dual-position use of a single HID bulb type is characteristic of projector-lens systems, where one bulb handles both beam functions through the housing's optical design.
The 2018 Traverse carries two distinct high beam and two distinct low beam specifications, reflecting a split between halogen and HID headlamp configurations available that year. The H7 and D3S are listed for high beam, while the H11 and D3S are listed for low beam, depending on the headlamp system installed.
The 9005 bulb, used for high beam on the 2009-2012 Traverse, follows the ANSI standard applicable in the US and Canada. It operates at 12V and 65W with a P20d base, making it the highest-wattage halogen bulb among those specified for this vehicle.
The H7 bulb, used for high beam on the 2013-2018 Traverse in halogen configurations, operates at 12V and 55W with a PX26d base. Although it shares the same voltage and wattage as the H11, its base type differs entirely, and the two bulbs are not interchangeable despite their similar electrical ratings.
The transition from the 9005 high beam bulb to the H7 occurred between the 2012 and 2013 model years. Both are single-filament halogen bulbs, but they use different base types and wattage ratings, so one cannot be substituted for the other without a housing incompatibility.
The D3S is mercury-free, which distinguishes it from earlier generations of HID bulbs. This characteristic reflects compliance with environmental regulations that restrict mercury content in automotive lighting components sold in certain markets.