US auto safety authorities said on Monday that they had ordered General Motors to recall nearly six million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles that contain Takata airbags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rejected a four-year old appeal from GM and concluded the automaker "has not met its burden of establishing that the defect is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety," according to an agency statement. GM said it disagreed with the decision, but will "abide" by the determination "and begin taking the necessary steps." jmb/cs