Can a VPN be traced?

The answer to your question - Can a VPN be traced is that people can still trace you with other methods. Just because your IP is different and your traffic is encrypted in a tunnel doesn't mean you can't be tracked. There are other ways people can track you. For example:
they can find who you are by doxing your IP isn't the only thing that identifies you on the internet your VPN service can see your IP and what you are doing and if hacked or owned by someone who wants to find you they can they can install malware that is hard to detect and can be installed without you knowing, which means your info will be leaked from the malware your VPN can leak your real IP at times. There are MANY more things that people can use to track you that will take too long to explain. If you want to be safe, install an antivirus, anti-malware, and firewall (if you don't wanna pay there are free versions, but remember you get what you pay for), don't mess with anyone (even if you don't suspect them to be a hacker), and don't act tough on the internet. I recommend you still use a VPN because it is another layer of security, but remember you can be tracked if you are their top priority and if they are smart.