Granit Xhaka's equaliser denied Everton victory as David Moyes's side survived the pressure from Regis Le Bris's side as the Blues struggled to cope.
Iliman Ndiaye opened the scoring with a beautiful strike and then Everton took control of the game but failed to add a second despite creating big chances.
Sunderland galvanised and then started dominating before equalising straight after half-time and was one way traffic as the home side looked like getting a winner.
Everton could have won late on with a break with Carlos Alcaraz but the Argentine squandered possession as they left with a point.
Everton's goal came through a brilliant piece of quality by Everton's wide man. The 25-year-old picked the ball up from deep and ran direct towards Sunderland's back-line.
The Senegal international twinkled his way through the defence with quick and sharp footwork before reaching the edge of the box, before lining up a curling effort which left Robin Roefs rooted to the spot.
Once again Ndiaye shown how dangerous he is for Everton and can produce the good for David Moyes side when needed.
According to Opta Joe since the start of the 2024/25 season Ndiaye is one of only five players to score at least five goals with either foot.
With the 25-year-old going away soon for the Africa Cup of Nations it's important that Everton find solutions quickly.
Lack of minutes across the squad
Against Crystal Palace Carlos Alcaraz came on and played a key role with Everton coming from behind to beat Oliver Glasner's side. Since then he came into the starting eleven against Manchester City, due to Grealish being ineligible and came on late against Tottenham and Sunderland.
The same can be said about summer signing Tyler Dibling, who signed late on for a fee of £40m where he's struggled to get a look in and once again was an unused substitution against the Black Cats.
The striker position has been an issue for David Moyes, with Theirno Barry starting and should of put the Blues 2-0 up has also struggled for minutes.
The Blues have different options to mix things up and change things when it's not working, however so far this season it's been all too similar.
The substitution against Sunderland we're late once again and Dwight McNeil who's struggled to get minutes so far came on the right for the injured Ndiaye, where he looked uncomfortable in his unnatural position.
What has the start of the season been like?
It was always going to be a transitional season for the club with the club moving stadium and a lot of change off the pitch, but with the investment that Everton have had should they be doing better?
Following two wins out of their first three, the Toffees have only won once since and with attacking talent like Jack Grealish and the tricky Iliman Ndiaye there's an argument that the club should be higher than 14th.
Against Sunderland it was a bright opening 30 minutes with Everton in control and looking dangerous. Grealish hit the post from range, Barry had a glourious chance at 1-0 following a dangerous cross from Grealish, but the 23-year-old smashed it over the bar.
In the second-half it was one way traffic with Granit Xhaka equalising straight after half-time and Everton had to survive the pressure that the home side was creating.
Boyhood Sunderland fan Jordan Pickford saved well from a deflected shot as the home side dominated the second-half and having 17 shots in total, majority after Barry's miss in what proved to be the turning point.
It was another game where Everton lacked control and were under huge amount of pressure after the 30 minute mark.
Following a first home defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to Tottenham Hotspur and draws to Aston Villa and West Ham United should there be more giving from this Everton team?
Or is it a reflection of where they are at the moment in time? After recent struggles in the league and the move to the stadium there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel for Evertonians.
But with the club with one win in eight the pressure could start mounting on David Moyes as it's vital that Everton aren't involved in any relegation worry and perhaps they'll use January to invest as so far this season converting chances has been Everton's achilles heel.