A modular door handle assembly has a door handle on a rotatable handle shaft mounted on a housing having a face with a bore for receiving the handle shaft. Dual-function studs retain a cover on the housing and have provision for mounting the door handle assembly to a door. Other provisions, within the housing, provide for operating a door latch in response to rotation of the door handle together with a mechanism for returning the handle to a parked position upon release of the handle from rotating force and a locking feature for releasably locking the door handle assembly to prevent operation of the door latch. The handle return and locking features are both driven by a pair of dual acting springs. The modular design simplifies repair and replacement of the assembly.