Dortmund looked to overturn an inconsistent run of results in the league and featured Erling Braut Haaland, Julian Brandt, Gio Reyna as well as Jude Bellingham in the final third.
Haaland were inches to the deadlock for the Black and Yellow brigade ten minutes in from a through ball to the area by Raphael Guerreiro, but the young forward failed to pounce.
The Black and Yellow hit the front midway through the first half when another delivery from Guerreiro picked out Jadon Sancho to go on and smash the bottom-corner.
Hoffenheim drew level soon following the half-hour mark with a smartly taken finish from the centre of the area by Munas Dabbur after a telling delivery from Sebastian Rudy.
Haaland continued to misfire in front of goal a second from halftime after he slammed a clear opening from a pass by Reyna blazingly over the top.
Dortmund were made to pay for their star forward's profligacy five minutes from the restart when a punch from Marwin Hitz following a free-kick ricochet off the head of Ihlas Bebou and into the net.
The Black and Yellow looked to have levelled midway in the second half through a simple tap-in from Haaland following a rebound off the post, but it was disallowed for offside.
Dortmund refreshed their set-up with 20 minutes to go, as Nico Schulz entered in place of Bellingham with Hoffenheim threatening a third through Zoran Maksimovic.
The host grabbed the equaliser nine minutes from time when Haaland showed quick feet to charge into the area before applying a thumping finish from close-range.
Hoffenheim had a big chance to find the winner from the near side through Maksimovic, but he fired wide as it ended all square.