Honours were shared in the game but neither side can be happy that they failed to take all three points.
The Football League's bottom club Exeter looked to have done enough in a frantic opening 45 minutes that saw them lead by only Carl Pettefer's 19th minute strike.
Under-pressure Darlington were nervy from the start and their normally strong defence looked extremely suspect in the opening phase of the game.
It was no surprise then that the visitors took the lead when Steve Flack crossed for Pettefer who beat Andy Collett at the far post with a strong rising drive into the net.
Darlington were on the ropes and they had to thank keeper Collett for keeping them in the game, saving a header and a left foot drive from Sean Devine within 60 seconds.
The Quakers began to get into the game as the half wore on and, in time added on, an unbelievable tackle by City defender Christopher Todd denied Barry Conlon an equalising goal.
The home side needed an early goal in the second half and got it when striker Danny Mellanby fired in from close range, in the 47th minute, to convert an Ashley Nicholls pass.
In the 51st minute the home side took the lead when Mellanby grabbed his second goal of the game. He stuck out a boot to deflect a Gary Pearson free kick past Kevin Miller in the Exeter goal.
But to their credit Exeter forced their way back into the game and an Andy Roscoe free kick flashed over the crossbar in the 62nd minute and then in the 64th Santos Gaia blazed over the crossbar from a good position.
Devine eventually found the back of the net in the 70th minute as he turned smartly just outside the box and blasted the ball beyond Collett to level the scores.