Central defender Steve Caldwell rescued a point for Sunderland with a last-gasp equaliser after Rangers had looked set to get their Coca-Cola Championship up and running at the Stadium of Light.
Stunning strikes from Paul Furlong and Martin Rowlands, sandwiched between a goal in a second successive match from Marcus Stewart, had looked enough to give Ian Holloway's side their first win of the season.
But Caldwell, a close season from Newcastle United, took a massive step to winning over the Black Cats fans when he headed home substitute Sean Thornton's left-wing corner.
Sunderland were left reeling after just 11 minutes after a brilliant strike by Furlong. The Rangers striker ran at a retreating defence before lashing an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the roof of the net.
Stewart looked hopefully for a penalty when sent tumbling in the box after a flowing move, John Oster curled a 25-yard effort just too high and Carl Robinson fired a well-worked free-kick into the arms of Chris Day.
Pressure from the Black Cats was finally rewarded in the 33rd minute, Stewart controlling a long ball over the defence from Oster to beat Day from close range.
Marcus Bean should have restored Rangers' lead, shooting past the post from a good position and Furlong blasted another fierce drive just too high before Stewart, critical of his finishing in the midweek win over Crewe, spurned another great chanced when sent clear with only Day to beat.
Day saved well from Julio Arca and Liam Lawrence before Rangers again hit the some side on the break to regain the lead in 71 minutes.
Rowlands broke on the left and with the Sunderland defence again in retreat, his powerful drive left Thomas Myhre well beaten.
Only the brilliance of Myhre prevented Gareth Ainsworth from giving Rangers a two-goal cushion and, but for Caldwell's late intervention, they would have chalked up their first victory.