The Black Cats have now lost their last four games at the Stadium of Light in all competitions.
And unless they can rediscover their confidence it may be some time before Roy Keane's men can bring this unwanted sequence to an end.
Lady Luck may not have been on the Red and Whites' side in previous home games, but the hosts had no-one but themselves to blame for their capitulation against Wanderers.
And yet it had all looked plain sailing when Sunderland took the lead as early as the 11th minute.
Steed Malbranque released Djibril Cisse and the striker calmly slotted past Jussi Jaaskelainen to put his side 1-0 up.
It should have been the shot in the arm that the home side and their fans were looking for, but instead the wheels came in spectacular fashion as they gift-wrapped three points and handed them to Gary Megson's side all too readily.
It certainly wasn't what Keane was looking for from his 100th game as Sunderland boss.
Had the landmark brought a victory you can bet the Irishman would have passed it off as just another game.
But the manner of this defeat and the way it was conceded means Keane won't forget his century in a hurry.
After all it was the hosts who were the chief architects in their own downfall.
The Black Cats' back four simply allowed themselves to be bullied by Wanderers as time and time again Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander won a crucial header.
It was from just one such header that the visitors drew level.
Gretar Steinsson's 17th minute throw-in looked to be no real danger, but the home defence failed to deal with it and allowed the Bolton star to get on the end of his own throw and cross into the area.
Yet again the Wearsiders were caught flat-footed and Matt Taylor got up to head home and kickstart the rout.
Four minutes later it was 2-1 to Wanderers. A deep free-kick from Andy O'Brien dropped into the path of Gary Cahill and he fired in from close range.
With the first half coming to a close, things got even worse for the Wearsiders thanks to a dreadful error by Danny Collins.
The centre-back looked to have everything under control as he went to deal with a long ball over the top, but he misjudged the flight and Elmander raced through on goal to make it 3-1.
The hosts were treated to a crescendo of boos as the half-time whistle sounded, but for their fans the suffering was far from over.
The home defence was found wanting once more on 54 minutes as a quick breakaway saw Kevin Nolan play in Elmander for his second and Bolton's fourth of the afternoon.
Sunderland kept looking for a way back into the clash, but by then they were in need of a minor miracle.
It may be the start of the season of goodwill, but there was no way the visitors were in any mood to gift the Black Cats an opening.
In the end Wanderers held firm for a deserved victory and the Wearsiders were left to wonder if the season that promised so much will ever get out of the starting blocks.