However, the result did see QPR at least climb off the bottom of the table, leapfrogging Southampton on goal difference ahead of the Saints' match against West Brom on Monday.
Former QPR defender Kaspars Gorkss opened the scoring for visitors Reading, who remained a point in front of his old club, in the 16th minute.
But Djibril Cisse eased the pressure on QPR manager Mark Hughes, who continues to be backed by the west London club's Malaysian owner Tony Fernandes, with a 66th minute equaliser.
QPR twice went close to a winner, Reading keeper Alex McCarthy saving when one-on-one with Adel Taarabt before French striker Cisse saw a shot fade just wide of the left post with the last kick of the match in stoppage time.
Reading came into this match reeling from the shock of their extraordinary 7-5 League Cup defeat by Arsenal in midweek, where they let slip a 4-0 lead.
But they made the running in the early stages against QPR and went ahead from a Nicky Shorey corner.
Sean Morrison headed the ball against the bar before Latvia's Gorkss, showing good technique, volleyed in his first Premier League goal with QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar getting a hand to the shot before it found its way into the net.
Gorkss declined to celebrate his goal, having also scored against Rangers in the League Cup earlier this season after leaving Loftus Road at the end of last term.
QPR though got back into the game but wasted several promising opportunities before McCarthy saved superbly to tip Esteban Granero's free-kick from the edge of the box onto the crossbar in the 38th minute.
Hughes's men continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and the Reading defence finally cracked when Cisse took one touch to control a cross from Jose Bosingwa before finding the bottom corner with a well-struck shot.
Source: AFP
Source: AFP