Vehicle exterior door handle with lighting module

An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door includes a strap-handle portion and a sealed self-contained elongated lighting module having (i) at least one illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light, (ii) an elongated housing and (iii) an elongated light-transmitting cover. The module may include an antenna and/or a light pipe. The strap-handle portion receives the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module. With the sealed self-contained elongated light module received in the strap-handle portion, the contour of the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module generally matches the contour of the strap-handle portion. With the door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when the illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by the illumination source passes through the elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing the exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.