The Wearsiders were left reeling by three goals inside an eight-minute spell from the Cheshire side after they had missed a string of good first-half chances.
David Vaughan found space behind the Black Cats defence in the 53rd minute to float a delicious cross for Dean Ashton to nod over the advancing Mart Poom from eight yards out for the first.
A minute later and Sunderland were caught napping again as Ashton and Justin Cochrane linked up and the midfielder then played the ball over the top to Steve Jones, who belted a low right-footer into the corner.
It was a remarkable turnaround after Mick McCarthy's team had bossed the first 45 minutes.
They looked shell-shocked as they continued their theme of wastefulness with Marcus Stewart turning over Julio Arca's cross over from a juicy position.
They were made to pay again when Crewe showed them how to finish off a half-chance in the 62nd minute.
Steve Foster's header was hacked away from Ben Rix's left-sided corner and, in the melee that ensued, Jones had two bites of the cherry before eventually bundling the ball in from close range.
Jones went close to his hat-trick, curling a late effort around the far post as Sunderland's poor run continued. They have failed to score in six of their last eight games.
And it was easy to see why when Jeff Whitley arrived on the six-yard line to meet loan winger Alan Quinn's cross, only to blaze wretchedly wide early in the game.
The Northern Ireland international did test Clayton Ince minutes later with a shot from 25 yards, but the Alex keeper was able to gather the ball comfortably.
Crewe were caught out when some good pressing work by Colin Healy freed Stephen Wright, who unleashed a terrific shot from 20 yards, which Ince just managed to get his fingertips to, as the ball went around his post.
The Wearsiders looked dangerous whenever they ventured near the Crewe goal and Ince did well to smother at Tommy Smith's feet after his striker partner, Stewart, had slipped him through on goal.
Stewart hit a close-range volley over in the 19th minute when it seemed easier to score and although Jones had a goal disallowed for offside on the half-hour mark it hardly seemed to worry the visitors.
But their finishing must have concerned their manager as Stewart turned an easy chance onto the inside of the post just before half-time after StewartDowning's shot had been parried by Ince.